There are two losses to report in the Monday March Madness wrap but it could so easily have been a different story.
When Charlisse Leger-Walker knocked down a long three inside the last two minutes it looked as if Washington State University Cougars, with a 53-52 lead, might advance to the second round at the expense of South Florida at the Women’s NCAA Tournament.
However it wasn’t to be as South Florida kept its composure down the stretch to nail a 57-53 victory and deny the Cougars the win in their first appearance at the Big Dance in 30 years.
Charlisse finished the contest with a team high 18 points to go with 5 rebounds and 4 assists whilst Krystal Leger-Walker made three each of points, assists and rebounds.
Charlisse, the Pac 12 Freshman of the Year, finished her stunning season with 452 points at 18.8 points per game. As well as being the Cougars leading scorer she played the most minutes (37.8 per game) and garnered the most steals (54).
Krystal was equally influential leading the team in assists (4.5apg) and second in scoring (234 points) and steals (38).
Emme Shearer, also a freshman, capped a highly productive season at the University of Portland with 9 points (4/7FG) as the Pilots were pipped 67-64 by Cleveland State in the Final of the Women’s Basketball Invitational.
Shearer, named to the All-West Coast Conference Freshman team, played all 27 games for Portland finishing third equal in scoring (7.0ppg) and steals (41).
It’s a big day tomorrow with no fewer than five Kiwis playing at the NCAA Tournaments.
Tomorrow
Women’s NCAA Tournament First Round
Virginia Commonwealth (Akiene-Tera Reed) v #4 Indiana
Kaylee Smiler and Tegan Graham (BYU) v Rutgers
#3 Arizona (Tara Manumaleuga) v Stony Brook
Men’s NCAA Tournament Second Round
Abilene Christian (Tobias Cameron) v UCLA
Women’s NIT Quarter Final
Colorado (Charlotte Whittaker) v Mississippi/Tulane
Friday
Men’s NIT Quarter Final
Colorado State (James Moors) v North Carolina State
