Postseason WNIT | 3/16/2022 7:04:05 PM
NEW MEXICO 92, GRAND CANYON 72
Box Score
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – In the first meeting between the two programs, New Mexico burst out to take a 23-point lead by halftime against Grand Canyon and ended up shooting x percent from the floor in a Round 1 victory over the Lopes.
The Lobos (25-9) will host San Diego or California Baptist in Round 2, a game that will tip at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 20. LaTascya Duff hit seven 3-pointers and had 27 points, Jaedyn De La Cerda rang up 22 points and Shaiquel McGruder added 20 points as New Mexico shot 47 percent (14-for-30) from the 3-point line. LaTora Duff closed with nine rebounds and 13 assists.
Grand Canyon (22-10) got 22 points from Tiarra Brown and 18 points from Jay McChristine.
MARQUETTE 93, BALL STATE 70
Box Score
MILWAUKEE, WI – Lauren Van Kleunen scored 24 points as Marquette shared the scoring burden against Ball State, leading for all but four seconds of the game and moving on to Round 2 of the 2022 Postseason WNIT.
Chloe Marotta added 20 points and a career-best 17 rebounds and Karissa McLaughlin came through with 19 points for the Golden Eagles (22-10), who scored 26 points in the third quarter and will host Purdue in Round 2 – that game will be held Monday, March 21 at 8 p.m. ET. Liza Karlen added 10 points and 10 rebounds for Marquette, which won the Postseason WNIT in 2008.
Ball State (20-13) got 22 points from Ally Becki and 15 points from Sydney Freeman.
LIBERTY 50, CAMPBELL 44
Box Score
LYNCHBURG, VA -- Liberty overcame 21 turnovers on Wednesday night to hold off Campbell in the first round of the Postseason WNIT, 50-44. The Flames were led by their starting front court of Mya Berkman and Bridgette Rettstatt, who each registered double-doubles. Rettstatt led the way with 16 points and 12 rebounds while Berkman added 12 points and 10 rebounds for a Liberty team that outrebounded Campbell 39-25.
Campbell was held to just 15-of-46 (32.6 percent) shooting in the contest and had just two bench points. Liberty will take on the winner of Murray State and Vanderbilt in the second round.
COLUMBIA 80, HOLY CROSS 69
Box Score
NEW YORK – Sophomore Abbey Hsu scored 24 points and set the Columbia program record for career 3-pointers (167), and the Lions used a strong night on the boards to move past Holy Cross in a Round 1 game of the 2022 Postseason WNIT.
In the first-ever meeting between the programs, the Lions (22-6) also got 18 points from Jaida Patrick and led in overall rebounds, 42-33. Kaitlyn Davis added 15 points, going 9-for-9 from the free-throw line. Columbia survived 20 turnovers and will face Old Dominion or Towson in Round 2.
The Crusaders (20-10), who last played in the WNIT in 2002, shot just 4-for-20 from the 3-point line. Avery LaBarbera, Patriot League player of the year, scored 21 points.
PURDUE 82, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 60
Box Score
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN -- Purdue shot 57 percent from the field and got a season-high 27 points from senior guard Brooke Moore en route to an 82-60 victory over Southern Illinois. The Boilermakers never trailed in the game and had a 40-6 advantage in points off the bench.
Purdue will travel to Marquette for the second round; that game will tip on Monday, March 21 at 8 p.m. ET.
KENT STATE 68, YOUNGSTOWN STATE 59
Box Score
YOUNGSTOWN, OH -- Kent State (19-11) utilized a 27-6 run in the 2nd and 3rd quarter to overcome a 10-point deficit to Youngstown State (24-7) on Wednesday night to secure a First Round WNIT victory. The Golden Flashes were led by senior forward Lindsey Thall, who had 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting, while junior guard Katie Shumate added 13 points. Kent State will take on the winner of Houston Baptist and Toledo in the second round.