Big Ten women's basketball tournament Day 1: How Washington, Nebraska, Iowa advanced
Wednesday's three favorites won by double digits at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
What happened on Day 1 of the Big Ten women’s basketball tournament:
THE COMMON THEME: The Huskies, the Huskers, and the Hawkeyes all clicked offensively in the second half. The three teams shot a collective 60.2% after halftime to seal the wins.
WASHINGTON 79, MINNESOTA 65
42
Combined second-half points from Sayvia Sellers, Hannah Stines, Dalayah Daniels, and Elle Ladine. The Huskies, who extended their winning streak to five, scored 47 points after halftime to build on a two-point lead, and the group totaled 89% of the production. The foursome made a combined 15 of 23 field goals, and Washington shot 63% in the second half. Ladine had 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
What’s next: The Huskies face Michigan on Thursday. The Wolverines won the regular-season matchup 82-69 in Ann Arbor.
MORE: Box score |
Big picture: The victory should solidify Washington's bid to the NCAA tournament and move it ahead of Minnesota. At the end of the regular season, Washington was considered a bubble team. The Gophers now wait and hope an underdog doesn’t win a conference tournament.
NEBRASKA 84, RUTGERS 60
50%
The Huskers’ 3-point shooting during a 13-minute stretch in the first half. They missed their first three attempts from 3-point range, but four players connected from beyond the arc as Nebraska doubled up the Scarlet Knights (22-11) late in the first quarter. The Huskers made 8 of 19 from 3-point range in the first half, which was different from the regular-season meeting. Nebraska was 3 of 22 during the mid-January victory at Rutgers. They made 13 3-pointers, the second straight game they’ve hit 10 or more. Five players hit at least two 3-pointers, including Alexis Markowski, who had 19 points and 10 rebounds. The Scarlet Knight started the game 5 of 27 from the field and couldn't recover.
What’s next: The Huskers face Illinois on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The Fighting Illini defeated Nebraska 77-68 last month in Champaign.
MORE: Box score |
Big picture: Despite losing five of their last eight games before the conference tournament, the Huskers are in good shape in the NCAA tournament. A loss to the Scarlet Knights would’ve made an uneasy 10 days before Selection Sunday. Rutgers finishes 11-19, the program’s fourth straight losing season.
IOWA 81, WISCONSIN 54
19
Consecutive points scored by the Hawkeyes during the final 6:30 of the first quarter. They erased a three-point deficit and turned the day's final game into a blowout. When Lucy Olsen hit a layup with two seconds on the clock, Iowa had a stranglehold on the Badgers, leading 25-9. Sydney Affolter scored seven of her nine points in the stretch. Wisconsin couldn’t keep up, committing five turnovers and hitting 4 of 13 field goals.
What’s next: The Hawkeyes take on Michigan State in Thursday’s final game. The two teams met in the Big Ten opener in December with the Spartans winning 68-66.
MORE: Box score |
Big picture: The Hawkeyes are firmly in the NCAA tournament, but maybe another win against a quality Michigan State team could push them up a seed line. Iowa would likely need to knock off Ohio State in the quarterfinals to make a substantial move. Allegations surfaced during the season that Wisconsin coach Marisa Moseley mistreated a player who is now at Ball State. Interested in how the school handles the situation. Moseley completed her fourth season, but the program hasn’t finished above .500 since 2010-11.
THURSDAY
No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 9 Indiana, noon (BTN)
No. 12 Washington vs. No. 5 Michigan, 25 minutes after Oregon-Indiana (BTN)
No. 10 Nebraska vs. No. 7 Illinois, 6:30 p.m. (BTN)
No. 11 Iowa vs. No. 6 Michigan State, 25 minutes after Nebraska-Illinois (BTN)