Women’s March Madness live updates: Previews, action from Sunday’s second round
The second round of the Madness is right here! After two thrilling days of huge wins, shut calls and star performances, the round of 32 will get going Sunday with 16 groups hoping to make it to the Sweet 16.
Will Duke placed on one other defensive clinic? Can Washington — or anybody — cease Olivia Miles? Before the video games tip off, our ESPN faculty basketball analysts have you ever coated with a key to successful the sport for each workforce.
Make certain to come back again because the video games get underway for live updates from the second round.
Jump to: Sunday game previews
All occasions Eastern.
Noon ET, ESPN
How the Terps can advance to the Sweet 16: Other than one first-round loss in 2023, Maryland has reached the Sweet 16 in each NCAA event courting to 2021. Brenda Frese has a profitable historical past within the second round, too. The manufacturing from Mir McLean and Kyndal Walker is an efficient signal. So a lot had fallen on main scorers Oluchi Okananwa and Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu in different video games, however the assist wasn’t there. That was largely accountable for Maryland shedding two video games previous to the NCAA event — which value the Terps the flexibility to host video games this weekend. That duo mixed for simply 13 factors on Friday, but the Terps nonetheless gained comfortably. — Charlie Creme
How the Tar Heels can advance to the Sweet 16: The Tar Heels confronted former ACC rival Maryland, which might be a really aggressive sport. The Terps beat Murray State 99-67 within the opening round and outbounded the Racers 51-21. North Carolina might want to attempt to restrict Maryland on the boards and in addition preserve the Terps off the road as a lot as attainable. Maryland made 19 of twenty-two free throws vs. Murray State. — Michael Voepel
1 p.m. ET, ABC
How the Wolfpack can advance to the Sweet 16: With the uncertainty round Zoe Brooks‘ harm, the Wolfpack should lean on one another to push by the subsequent round. Players akin to Zamareya Jones have to create greater alternatives within the paint. Tennessee was in a position to restrict NC State’s offense when maintaining the Wolfpack out of transition, so the Wolfpack need to discover a strategy to get to the basket. — Charlotte Gibson
How the Wolverines can advance to the Sweet 16: Consistency over the subsequent couple of video games will probably be key for Michigan. The better part about this workforce is its power in numbers. Mila Holloway led the cost Friday, however fellow sophomores Olivia Olson and Syla Swords are the workforce’s prime two scorers this season. Look for them to maintain contributing with large numbers. — Gibson
2 p.m. ET, ESPN
How the Rebels can advance to the Sweet 16: The Rebels reached the regional semifinals a yr in the past, however this group is fully completely different from final season’s workforce. The Rebels introduced in eight new gamers this season however discovered learn how to make the transition as seamless as attainable. One factor to observe for: Although Ole Miss dominated Gonzaga early, the Bulldogs put collectively a 17-0 run within the fourth quarter to chop into the Rebels’ 30-point lead. The Rebels have to preserve their foot on the gasoline. — Kendra Andrews
How the Gophers can advance to the Sweet 16: The Gophers cannot afford one other sluggish begin within the second round, as a result of No. 5 seed Ole Miss will make them pay. The Rebels defeated Gonzaga 81-66 within the first round of the Sacramento 2 Regional; Ole Miss had 40 factors within the paint, plus scored 23 factors off turnovers. The Gophers could have their arms full with Ole Miss, which made it to the SEC event semifinals. — Voepel
3 p.m. ET, ABC
How the Lady Raiders can advance to the Sweet 16: There is little question LSU will present a distinct problem, however having performed a protection as robust as Villanova on Friday ought to serve the Lady Raiders properly. They can’t afford to get off to a sluggish begin, although, as a result of LSU has the kind of offense to place the sport out of attain early. The Lady Raiders should restrict their turnovers — 20 towards Villanova is just not going to get the job completed if they’ll have any likelihood at pulling the upset on LSU. — Andrea Adelson
How the Tigers can advance to the Sweet 16: The Tigers have made it to the Elite Eight the previous two seasons, and all the way in which to the title sport — which they gained — in 2023 as a No. 3 seed. As robust as their offense was towards Jacksonville, LSU coach Kim Mulkey mentioned she needed their protection to enhance after the primary half (the Dolphins had 36 factors on the break). Tightening up that protection going ahead is a should if LSU needs to proceed to develop every round. — Andrews
4 p.m. ET, ESPN
How the Bears can advance to the Sweet 16: The Bears should beat the No. 3 seed Blue Devils on their house court docket. Duke misplaced simply as soon as at Cameron Indoor Stadium this season: Dec. 4 to LSU. But the Bears have a win over the Blue Devils already this season: 58-52 within the opener on Nov. 3 in Paris. Expect these groups’ NCAA second-round sport to be an analogous defensive battle. — Voepel
How the Blue Devils can advance to the Sweet 16: The Blue Devils have had top-of-the-line defenses within the nation, and that confirmed extra within the first half Friday than the second. That’s one thing Duke must be extra constant about within the second round. The Blue Devils moved the ball properly with 25 assists, however a part of coach Kara Lawson’s irritation was turnovers, as Duke had 20. The Blue Devils gained the rebounding battle 47-39, however Lawson needs extra dominance in that class as properly. — Voepel
6 p.m. ET, ESPN
How the Ducks can advance to the Sweet 16: The Ducks, who beat Maryland within the second round of the Big Ten event, have now gained three of their previous 4 video games, their greatest streak since successful 4 in a row in late January. When Oregon beat Maryland in Indianapolis, Michigan was up subsequent — and the Wolverines handed the Ducks a 22-point loss. Oregon’s doubtless subsequent opponent, Texas, presents an excellent greater problem.
This was additionally the twenty third win of the season for the Ducks, making this their most profitable marketing campaign since Sabrina Ionescu’s senior yr in 2020, when the NCAA event was canceled as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. — Believe me
How the Longhorns can advance to the Sweet 16: The Longhorns, who’ve made it to no less than the Elite Eight 4 of the previous 5 years, face No. 8 seed Oregon within the second round. The Ducks beat Virginia Tech 70-60 within the first round. You will be certain Texas coach Vic Schaefer is specializing in a defensive sport plan to restrict Oregon standout guard Katie Fisowho had 22 factors on 9-of-12 capturing towards the Hokies. — Voepel
8 p.m. ET, ESPN
How the Spartans can advance to the Sweet 16: Against Oklahoma, the Spartans should cope with the house crowd and top-of-the-line level guards within the sport in freshman Aaliyah Chavez — to not point out probably the most dominant facilities in Raegan Beers. The Spartans have to knock down some 3-pointers to assist stretch the ground and open the court docket up for Grace Van Slooten down low. Michigan State’s guard-heavy lineup has been right here earlier than and is extra skilled, which might be an X issue towards Chavez. — ESPN
How the Sooners can advance to the Sweet 16: Keep doing what they’re doing. Oklahoma was efficient within the frontcourt and backcourt, shot 51% from the sector and had 4 gamers in double-digit scoring. As spectacular as Beers and Sahara Williams had been, it is maybe most notable that Chavez — making her NCAA event debut — had zero turnovers in 31 minutes. — ESPN
10 p.m. ET, ESPN
How the Huskies can advance to the Sweet 16: This was Washington’s first event win since 2017, the yr the Huskies made it to the Sweet 16 behind Kelsey Plum’s 30 factors per sport. Washington will face No. 3 seed TCU — and triple-double menace Olivia Miles — within the second round. The Huskies can’t fall into an early gap like they did towards South Dakota State. Washington should ensure that its protection is clicking early. — Andrews
How the Horned Frogs can advance to the Sweet 16: After the Horned Frogs scored simply 53 factors within the Big 12 event championship sport towards West Virginia, they scored 48 within the first half towards UC San Diego, erasing the reminiscence of their second-lowest offensive output of the season. The Tritons are actually not the Mountaineers, however an offensive sport like this helps restore TCU’s confidence. The pick-and-roll offense seemed sharp once more with the Horned Frogs registering 23 assists on their 32 discipline targets. The 13 3-pointers on 26 makes an attempt had been additionally essentially the most for TCU since early December. Having that capturing stroke towards both Georgia or South Dakota State within the second round will probably be essential. — Believe me
