Women's March Madness Roundup: Baylor's Dramatic Rally Leads Perfect Day for Higher Seeds
In a stunning display of resilience, the Baylor Bears overcame a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Nebraska Cornhuskers 67-62 on Friday, marking a flawless opening day for higher seeds in the NCAA Tournament. All 16 favored teams emerged victorious, setting a tone of chalk dominance in this year's March Madness.
Baylor's Gritty Comeback Against Nebraska
Taliah Scott led the charge for Baylor with 15 points, but it was the team's collective effort in the final minutes that sealed the win. After trailing 50-41 with 9:33 remaining, the sixth-seeded Bears (25-8) intensified their full-court press, forcing six turnovers from Nebraska in the last quarter. The turning point came with the game tied at 53 and 3:48 on the clock, when Baylor coach Nicki Collen successfully appealed for a flagrant foul review on Nebraska's Jessica Petrie. Scott sank two crucial free throws to give Baylor a lead they never relinquished.
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs contributed 13 points, while Jana Van Gytenbeek added 12, including two pivotal three-pointers in the second half. Petrie, who had 10 points for the Cornhuskers, fouled out shortly after the controversial call, further hampering Nebraska's chances.
LSU's Offensive Onslaught
No. 2 seed LSU showcased their offensive prowess with a commanding 116-58 victory over Jacksonville. Flau'jae Johnson scored 20 points, and Mikaylah Williams added 18 points and 10 assists, helping the Tigers surpass their nation-leading scoring average of 94.5 points per game. This marked the 15th time this season LSU has scored 100 or more points. The team also recorded a season-high 18 steals and dominated points off turnovers with a 38-13 advantage.
Jada Richard contributed 17 points and four steals, while ZaKiyah Johnson added 16 points, as seven LSU players scored in double digits. Jacksonville (24-9), making only their second NCAA Tournament appearance, struggled to keep pace despite 14 points from Carmaya Bowman and 10 from Tatum Brown.
Texas and TCU Roll to Dominant Wins
No. 1 seed Texas opened their tournament run with an emphatic 87-45 win over Missouri State. Jordan Lee scored 19 points, and All-American Madison Booker posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. The Longhorns (32-3) built a 32-point halftime lead, overwhelming Missouri State with their size and speed. Kyla Oldacre, standing at 6-foot-6, added 15 points as Texas advanced to face Oregon in the second round.
Meanwhile, No. 3 seed TCU cruised to an 86-40 victory over UC San Diego, extending their home winning streak to 43 games. Olivia Miles recorded her 12th career triple-double with 12 points, 16 rebounds, and 14 assists, setting a TCU single-game record for assists. Taylor Bigby added a career-high 27 points, including seven three-pointers, as the Horned Frogs (30-5) dominated from start to finish.
Other Notable Performances
Duke, seeded third, defeated College of Charleston 81-64 behind Toby Fournier's 24 points. Despite a comfortable margin, coach Kara Lawson expressed frustration over 20 turnovers that led to 22 points for Charleston. No. 4 seed Minnesota rallied from a third-quarter deficit to beat Green Bay 75-58, with Amaya Battle scoring 21 points. Mississippi, seeded fifth, overpowered Gonzaga 81-66, led by Latasha Lattimore's 15 points.
In other action, Texas Tech edged Villanova 57-52, North Carolina rolled past Western Illinois 82-51, and Maryland dominated Murray State 99-67. Michigan, seeded second, defeated Holy Cross 83-48, while NC State beat Tennessee 76-61 behind Zamareya Jones' career-high 30 points. Oregon used a strong third quarter to top Virginia Tech 70-60, and Oklahoma overwhelmed Idaho 89-59. Michigan State rallied to beat Colorado State 65-62, and Washington secured a 72-54 win over South Dakota State, led by Avery Howell's 30 points.
The first day of March Madness set a high standard, with higher seeds demonstrating their strength and setting the stage for intense second-round matchups.
