It’s a delight to report, in our second March Madness update, that Helen Matthews enjoyed a career night as Wofford University progressed in conference tournament play although it wasn’t such good news elsewhere for Kiwis.
No 2 seeded Arizona accounted for #7 Washington State University Cougars in the Pac-12 Conference quarter-finals. Down 13-5 at quarter time and committing 20 first half turnovers the Cougars somehow stayed in the game before eventually going down 60-44.
Charlisse Leger-Walker (12 points) and Krystal (10 points) were the only two Cougars in double figures.
Washington State must now await their fate at Selection Monday on March 15 to see if they will receive an invitation to the NCAA Tournament. It would be a first visit since 1991 for the Cougars.
Helen Matthews was in sensational form as Wofford College Terriers defeated UNC Greensboro 78-66 to book a semi-final spot in the Southern Conference Tournament.
The former Canterbury Wildcats and Kaiapoi High School guard not only scored a career high 16 points (6/12FG) but also dished a career best 8 assists.
Wofford are in action again tomorrow.
Also in the Southern Conference it wasn’t such good news for Rotorua’s Pareunora Pene and third ranked Tennessee Chattanooga Mocs. The Mocs were expected to take care of business against sixth seeded Furman University but were upset 58-40 to bow out of the play-offs.
Without a West Coast Conference win this season Taki Fahrensohn and #10 seeded Portland took on #7 Santa Clara and as expected came off second best. However the scoreline was a lot closer than many predicted with Portland taking the game to the wire before losing 96-86.
The former Auckland Grammar and Waitakere player has made 20 appearances for the Pilots this season averaging 2.8ppg.
Kendell Heremaia was in fine form as Fordham University Rams rounded out their regular season with a 48-43 win at George Washington University.
Despite having not played for three weeks due to Covid restrictions Heremaia showed no signs of rust bagging a game high 19 points (7/10FG, 3/6 3PG) and 8 rebounds – passing 600 career rebounds in the process.
Fordham finish with an 8-2 conference record and will carry second seeding and a double bye into next week’s Atlantic 10 Tournament hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University, the home of Tall Fern Akienne-Tera Reed.
Despite a career best rebounding effort from Chanel Brodeur-Muir, St Thomas Aquinas College were defeated 62-56 by Roberts Wesleyan College in NCAA Division II East Coast Conference semi-final action. In a terrific defensive effort the former Harbour guard bagged 10 rebounds, a steal and a block to accompany 3 points.
In the next 48 hours Kruz Perrott-Hunt (South Dakota), Sam Mennenga (Davidson), Tayla Dalton, Jade Kirisome, Amy West (all St Mary’s, California), Emme Shearer (Portland) and Tsubasa Nisbett (Georgia Southern) will all commence sudden-death tournament play.
