In eight days, the ladies’s NCAAW match subject shall be solidified, and followers can lastly put pen to paper on their brackets. Till then, there’s nonetheless convention match {hardware} to be handed out. Seven conferences delivered bids to the Large Dance on Sunday, together with the ACC, Large 10 and Large 12. 5 extra conferences performed video games starting from the opening spherical to the semifinals.
Whereas there have been loads of worthy performances to jot down dwelling about on Sunday, these three stood out above the remaining.
Paige Meyer, South Dakota State
NCAAW 2024-2025 Stats:26 PTS, 5 REB, 9 AST, 57.1 FG%
Behind the numbers: The South Dakota State ladies’s basketball is likely one of the unsung dynasties in American sports activities. The Jackrabbits gained their third Summit League convention title in a row on Sunday, making that 13 of the final 17. Why? Due to gamers like Paige Meyer.
Meyer earned her second straight match MVP on with 26 factors and 9 assists within the title recreation. Meyer solely surpassed that scoring whole one different time this season, final week in a 27-point outing towards St. Thomas (MN). The Albany, MN native was efficient from all three ranges on Sunday, ending 8-of-14 from the sector total whereas taking pictures 4-of-6 from 3-point vary. Meyer additionally displayed her artful driving potential and had some spectacular finishes on the tin, as you possibly can see for your self under.
Paige Meyer COME ON.
📺 @CBSSportsCBB pic.twitter.com/j3syyIvMfR
— Jackrabbit WBB (@GoJacksWBB) March 9, 2025
Lauren Betts, UCLA
NCAAW 2024-2025 Stats:17 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST, 4 BLK, 4 STL, 70 FG%
Behind the numbers: Lauren Betts and the Bruins had been on a mission Sunday, profitable the Large 10 convention match and avenging two earlier losses to USC with a 72-67 victory. UCLA trailed by 10 factors at halftime however Betts scored 13 of her 17 factors within the second half because the Bruins outscored USC 37-24 within the second half.
As a lot of a distinction as Betts made offensively, she was much more of a power on the defensive finish. Betts had 4 blocks whole, three within the second half, and she or he utterly shut down USC’s potential to attain within the paint. She additionally had lively fingers, tallying a career-high 4 steals. Betts made 7-of-10 makes an attempt from the sector and helped maintain USC’s beginning entrance court docket to a mixed 12 factors and eight rebounds whereas JuJu Watkins shot 9-of-28 from the sector. Discuss a balanced efficiency. You’ll be able to as soon as once more think about UCLA as a reliable nationwide NCAAW championship menace.
Lauren Betts blocks Juju from behind 😤 pic.twitter.com/LH6Jz00Qvq
— Basketball Scout (@ShowCaseShabazz) March 9, 2025
Sarah Sturdy, UConn
NCAAW 2024-2025 Stats:20 PTS, 16 REB, 4 AST, 2 BLK, 3 STL, 57.1 FG%
Behind the numbers: UConn nonetheless has to win Monday’s convention title recreation if it desires to clinch an eleventh straight automated bid to the NCAAW match, however Sarah Sturdy’s efficiency within the semifinal went a great distance towards getting them there.
The AAC Freshman of the 12 months tallied 20 factors and a career-high 16 rebounds to steer the Huskies to an 82-54 win over Villanova on Sunday. Sturdy had a balanced efficiency in each halves, tallying 10 factors and 9 rebounds within the first half and 10 factors and 7 rebounds within the second half. 5 of Sturdy’s rebounds got here on the offensive finish and she or he put again two of these rebounds for made subject targets. Sturdy shot 8-of-14 from the sector in whole and made 4-of-6 makes an attempt from the free throw line.
