Women’s Sweet 16 and Elite 8 Recap

Story posted March 29, 2023 in CommRadio, Sports by Julianna Steinmetz

The Women’s Tournament Final Four is set with South Carolina facing Iowa and Louisiana facing Virginia Tech. 
What happened this past weekend that got these four teams to where they are? 

Greenville Regional One
The Maryland Terrapins had an impressive run through the tournament, notably breezing by Notre Dame in the sweet 16. Despite this, the Terrapins were no match for South Carolina.

In the Elite Eight, the South Carolina Gamecocks won through their ability to rebound. They had 48 as opposed to the Terrapins’ 26. 

The Gamecocks had more opportunities to score through both field goals and free throws. They came out victorious 86-75. 

“The joy that I feel for this team to be able to be where they are, I’m just really happy,” coach Dawn Staley said. Staley has led her team to five final fours since 2015.

The undefeated Gamecocks are now just two wins away from winning back-to-back championships. 

Greenville Regional Two
In the Sweet 16, the Villanova Wildcats were defeated by the Miami Hurricanes 70-65. Star Forward Maddy Siegrist played in her last game as a Wildcat putting up 31 points and 13 rebounds. 

As for the Hurricanes, they would go on to lose in the Elite Eight to the LSU Tigers who escaped a close Sweet 16 game to Utah. 

The Tigers, led by head coach Kim Mulkey will be making their first Final Four appearance since 2008. 

Angel Reese and Alexis Morris contributed heavily to the LSU victory. Morris put up 21 points for the Tigers, meanwhile, Reese set the SEC record for most double-doubles in a single season with 32. 

Seattle Regional Four

The Ohio State Buckeyes fought hard throughout the entire tournament before falling to number one seed Virginia Tech in the Elite Eight. 

For the Buckeyes, Big Ten Freshman of the Year Cotie McMahon and senior Taylor Mikesell were both stand-out players. Despite putting up points, the Buckeyes were outplayed offensively and defensively by the Hokies.

All players on Virginia Tech contributed to its win against the Buckeyes. As a team, the Hokies were able to get past the Buckeyes’ defense and finished the game with a 48.1% success rate in field goals.

Seattle Regional Four
In the Elite Eight, the five-seeded Louisville Cardinals faced the number two Iowa Hawkeyes. Louisville's Hailey Van Lith and Olivia Cochran were certainly impressive despite coming up short against Iowa. Van Lith sank eight field goals, three three-pointers and eight free throws. Cochran went 7-for-11 on field goals and 6-for-6 on free throws in addition to 14 rebounds. 

The Cardinals were simply unable to compete with the Hawkeyes and their star Guard Caitlin Clark. 

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark has completely dominated in her games this tournament just as she has done all season. Clark has averaged 27.3 points per game this season. Against Colorado in the Sweet 16, she put up 31 and against Louisville in the Elite Eight accounted for 41 of the team’s 97 points.

Clark finished the game with the first 40-point-triple-double in men’s or women’s tournament history.

Julianna Steinmetz is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email jfs6759@psu.edu.