Postseason WNIT | 3/19/2021 12:00:00 AM
RICE 48, ARIZONA STATE 36
FORT WORTH, TX — Lauren Schwartz and Nancy Mulkey each scored 16 points for Rice, and the Owls outscored Arizona State by an 18-5 margin in the fourth quarter to prevail in Round 1 of the 2021 Postseason WNIT.
Rice will play Fresno State in Round 2 on Saturday; Arizona State will play Missouri in the consolation round, also on Saturday.
Points were hard to come by early, as the teams went scoreless for more than five minutes to start the game. Rice (19-4), which got 10 rebounds from Jasmine Smith, won despite missing its first 10 3-pointers and committing 20 turnovers.
Maggie Besselink had nine points and seven rebounds for the Sun Devils (11-11). ASU shot 25 percent from the field.
FRESNO STATE 78, MISSOURI 75
Fresno State scored nine straight points in the final 1 minute, 26 seconds to shock Missouri with a comeback victory in Round 1 of the 2021 Postseason WNIT.
The Bulldogs (17-10) scored 49 points in the second half. They will play Rice in Round 2 on Saturday. The Tigers (9-12) will take on Arizona State in the consolation round, also on Saturday.
Fresno State closed within 73-69 on a 3-pointer from Yanina Todorova with 3:15 to go. Haley Troup’s layup for Missouri made it 75-69 at 2:13, and the Bulldogs fought right back on jumpers from twin sisters Hanna Cavinder and Haley Cavinder.
Todorova drained another 3-pointer as Fresno State went up, 76-75, with 21 seconds to go. Missouri missed a 3-pointer at :08; Hanna Cavinder hit two free throws, and the Tigers had their last-gasp 3-pointer blocked at the buzzer.
Haley Cavinder finished with 25 points, Todorova added 19 points, and Hanna Cavinder scored 14 points. For Missouri, which had 18 turnovers, Shannon Dufficy scored 16 points, Ladazhia Williams had 11 points, and Aisha Blackwell scored 10 points.
SAN FRANCISCO 71, HOUSTON 63
San Francisco’s international roster took the lead and fended off Houston the rest of the way in Round 1 of the 2021 Postseason WNIT. It's the program's first postseason victory since 1998.
The Dons (16-10) will play California Baptist in Round 2; the Cougars (16-8) will face New Mexico in the consolation round, also Saturday.
San Francisco had a 10-2 edge in made free throws and 38-31 in rebounds; the Dons also had 21 turnovers. Amalie Langer closed with a career-high 23 points, Lucie Hoskova added 18 points, and Ioanna Krimili added 14 points.
San Francisco players hail from around the world, including the countries of Finland, Croatia, Latvia, Denmark, Sweden, Greece, Australia, the Czech Republic and Poland.
Houston scored just 24 points in the second half. Laila Blair had 19 points, and Miya Crump added 12 points and 10 rebounds.
CALIFORNIA BAPTIST 90, NEW MEXICO 85
In the highest scoring game of Round 1, California Baptist rang up 30 points in the third quarter to grab the lead and eventually top New Mexico in the 2021 Postseason WNIT.
The Lancers (25-0) will play San Francisco in Round 2 on Saturday, while the Lobos (15-5) take on Houston in the consolation round, also on Saturday.
With 4:01 left, Taylor Wu’s layup put the Lancers up, 80-77, and Britney Thomas hit a layup to keep the lead at 84-81 at the 2:29 mark. Another Thomas basket and free throw made it 87-81 with 1:56 left.
Autumn Watts made a shot for the Lobos, pulling them to 87-83 with 1:08 left, but they would get no closer. New Mexico started the game by taking an 8-0 lead.
For the Lancers, Caitlyn Harper had 25 points, and Britney Thomas chipped in 22 points and 10 rebounds. Ane Olaeta closed with 14 assists, a career high, and 11 points. California Baptist shot 53 percent from the field and had 17 turnovers, but also had a 45-34 lead in rebounds and a total of 30 assists.
New Mexico’s Jaedyn De La Cerda added 28 points and seven rebounds, and LaTascya Duff scored 20 points. The Lobos got nine points from Shaiquel McGruder.