In a thrilling Big Ten Conference tournament championship clash, No. 3 Iowa outlasted Nebraska with a 94-89 overtime victory, securing their third consecutive Big Ten tournament championship. Caitlin Clark played a pivotal role, overcoming a slow start to explode for 34 points, including 30 points during the second half and overtime. Iowa (29-4) showcased resilience and determination to seal the win, with Clark hitting a crucial go-ahead 3-pointer in the overtime period.
Alexis Markowski’s impressive performance, with 23 points and 13 rebounds, led fifth-seeded Nebraska (22-11), but it wasn’t enough to overcome Iowa’s offensive firepower. Natalie Potts added 21 points for the Cornhuskers, who fought valiantly but fell short in the overtime battle.
In other notable women’s basketball action:
No. 1 South Carolina 79, No. 8 LSU 72
South Carolina claimed the Southeastern Conference championship with a 79-72 victory over LSU. MiLaysia Fulwiley’s stellar performance, including 24 points and four 3-pointers, propelled the Gamecocks (32-0) to an undefeated record. A late-game clearing of the benches added a unique element to the contest, but South Carolina emerged victorious.
No. 5 Southern California 74, No. 2 Stanford 61
McKenzie Forbes scored 26 points as Southern California defeated Stanford 74-61 in the Pac-12 Conference tournament championship game. The Trojans (26-5) led for the majority of the game, securing their second Pac-12 tournament title. Despite a strong effort from Stanford’s Cameron Brink (19 points, 10 rebounds), USC dominated the boards and emerged victorious.
No. 9 UConn 58, Marquette 29
UConn cruised to a 58-29 victory over Marquette in the Big East tournament semifinal. Paige Bueckers led the way with an impressive all-around performance, contributing 27 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, four blocks, and three steals. The Huskies (28-5) displayed defensive prowess, limiting Marquette to just 29 points and securing a spot in the Big East tournament final.
No. 14 Notre Dame 55, No. 10 North Carolina State 51
Notre Dame secured a 55-51 victory over North Carolina State in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championship. Hannah Hidalgo’s standout performance, with 22 points, led the Fighting Irish (26-6) to their first ACC tournament title since 2019. Notre Dame’s victory marked a historic achievement for coach Niele Ivey, becoming the first Black woman to win the ACC tournament.
Georgetown 55, No. 21 Creighton 46
Georgetown upset No. 21 Creighton with a 55-46 victory in the Big East Conference tournament semifinal. Kelsey Ransom and Alex Cowan played crucial roles for the Hoyas (22-10), who overcame shooting challenges to secure the win. Georgetown’s strong rebounding and defensive efforts proved pivotal against the second-seeded Bluejays (25-5).
