Postseason WNIT | 3/28/2019 11:20:31 PM
CINCINNATI 72, BUTLER 65
CINCINNATI, OH – Cincinnati outscored Butler 24-9 in the final quarter, and Sam Rodgers had a big night with 23 points as the Bearcats advanced to the WNIT quarterfinals.
Cincinnati (24-10) had a 15-0 run in the first quarter but fell behind as Butler dominated the boards. Rodgers hit a 3-pointer with 1:25 to go that put Cincinnati up 65-63, and Antoinette Miller, Nikira Goings and Angel Rizor each hit a pair of free throws late to preserve the lead.
This is the Bearcats’ first 20-win season since 2003. Miller added 20 points as Cincinnati was 15-of-17 from the free-throw line and hit nine 3-pointers.
Butler (23-10) got 25 points from Whitney Jennings and 21 points from Tori Schickel. Kristen Spolyar finished with 13 points, giving her 1,000 in her career. The Bulldogs had 17 turnovers and a 43-31 edge in rebounding.
OHIO 68, WESTERN KENTUCKY 60
ATHENS, OH – Ohio got 21 points from sophomore star Cece Hooks, and Gabby Burris added 12 points and 11 rebounds as the Bobcats moved to the WNIT quarterfinals.
Ohio (30-5), which was 0-6 all-time in the WKU series coming in, will face Northwestern in the next round. Amani Burke added 15 points for Ohio
Western Kentucky (20-15) got 14 points from Alexis Brewer, 13 points from Whitney Creech and 11 points each from Raneem Elgedawy and Dee Givens.
JAMES MADISON 70, VIRGINIA TECH 66
HARRISONBURG, VA – James Madison got crucial late free throws from Kamiah Smalls and Logan Reynolds after Virginia Tech had rallied to take the lead, and the Dukes forced 17 turnovers as it advanced to the quarterfinals of the WNIT.
James Madison (28-5) will host Georgetown in the next round on Sunday, March 31, at 2 p.m. ET.
Smalls closed with 16 points and six rebounds, and Jackie Benitez added 15 points.
It was an emotional assignment for Virginia Tech (22-12), as third-year head coach Kenny Brooks was in the JMU gym for the first time since his 14-year term as Dukes head coach.
Taylor Emery had 21 points and four assists; Trinity Baptiste came through with 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Regan Magarity had 10 points and nine rebounds.
TCU 82, ARKANSAS 78
FAYETTEVILLE, AR – Amy Okonkwo came through with 36 points (a career high) and 14 rebounds as TCU took the lead in the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run, guiding the Frogs to the WNIT quarterfinals.
TCU (23-10) will play Cincinnati in the next round.
The Frogs trailed in the all-time series against Arkansas, 20-3, entering the contest. Adeola Akomolafe chipped in with 12 points and seven rebounds, and Lauren Heard had 12 points. TCU finished with a 45-31 lead in rebounds and was a solid 23-of-25 from the free-throw line.
Arkansas (22-15) got 22 points from Chelsea Dungee, who set the program’s single-season scoring record this year (759). Malica Monk scored 18 points and Jailyn Mason added 17 points; the Razorbacks were 10-for-21 from 3-point range.
WYOMING 61, PEPPERDINE 60
LARAMIE, WY – Pepperdine came back in the fourth quarter to tie it at 60-all, but Wyoming’s Karla Erjavec hit a free throw with nine seconds left, and the Cowgirls stopped the Waves’ last chance to advance to the quarterfinals of the WNIT.
Wyoming (25-8) was paced by the 15 points from Bailee Cotton, and the team had just four turnovers on the night. Interestingly, Wyoming head coach Joe Legerski earned two of his milestone wins against Pepperdine. In 2012, he became Wyoming's all-time winningest coach with a victory over the Waves, and in the next season, he earned his 200th career win with an 84-64 win against Pepperdine.
Pepperdine (22-12) hadn’t won a postseason game since the 1970s before the 2019 Postseason WNIT. Yasmine Robinson-Bacote had 26 points and seven rebounds.
ARIZONA 68, IDAHO 60
TUCSON, AZ – Arizona started the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run, building enough breathing room against Idaho to cruise to the finish and advance to the WNIT quarterfinals.
The Wildcats will face Wyoming in the next round in Tucson on Sunday, March 31.
Aari McDonald finished with 18 points and 11 assists; it’s the first time the Wildcats have had a player reach double figures in assists since 2013. Freshman Cate Reese added 14 points; Sam Thomas closed with 13 points and Tee Tee Starks added 11 points and six rebounds.
Idaho (22-12) got 20 points from Taylor Pierce, who hit six 3-pointers and ended the season with an NCAA single-season record of 154. Mikayla Ferenz and Gina Marxen each had 11 points. Idaho had 15 turnovers.