The past two days has seen plenty of college basketball action in the US, with a Kiwi presence across all of the main tournaments.
Wednesday (NZT) saw a game with Kiwis in both camps, as Portland University Pilots gave Brigham Young University (BYU) all they could handle in the West Coast Conference semi-final before the top-seed, and 15th ranked team in the nation, prevailed 59-52 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Tegan Graham dished 6 assists to compliment a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds for BYU. It was fitting that Graham should play such an influential hand on the day she became the first Kiwi to play 150 NCAA Division I games
Kaylee Smiler chipped in with three points for the victors while for Portland Emme Shearer had 2 points and an assist but was severely hampered by foul trouble. BYU will face arch rivals Gonzaga in the Grand-Final, a repeat of the 2021 championship game which was won by Gonzaga.
On the Men’s side of the West Coast Conference Tournament, Saint Mary’s College Gaels held off a fast finishing Santa Clara to win 75-72 with Dan Fotu tallying 5 points off the bench for the Gaels. St Mary’s were playing in the semi-finals for the seventh straight year and will take on #1 Gonzaga in the Championship game.
Kruz Perrott-Hunt played a fighting hand but South Dakota University Coyotes were well beaten 83-60 by top seed South Dakota State in Summit League semi-final action. The Coyotes leading scorer this season once again paced his team with 19 points (7/13FG) to pass 450 points in the 2021-22 campaign. The Tall Black guard has scored in double figures in 26 of the Coyotes 31 games.
Jessica Moors and Colorado State beat Wyoming 51-38 in the Mountain West Conference Championship Quarter Finals.
Thursday (NZT) saw Brigham Young University (BYU) defeated for the second successive year by Gonzaga in the Grand Final of the West Coast Conference Tournament, this time a 71-59 defeat.
Tegan Graham had a game high 6 assists but couldn’t get her shooting game going finishing on 5 points, while Kaylee Smiler scored 2 points.
Also for the second successive year, BYU have been denied direct entry into the NCAA Tournament that a conference championship provides. They will instead hope to hear their name called out as an at-large bid come the Selection Sunday Show this weekend.
With an overall 26-3 record this season and a national ranking of 15 selection would appear to be a formality but it will still be a nervous wait for Graham, Smiler and the third Kiwi on the BYU roster, Arielle Mackey-Williams.
Thursday (NZT) on the Men’s side of the West Coast Conference Tournament, saw Saint Mary’s College suffered the same fate as BYU Women – defeated by Gonzaga in the semi-finals. Downed 82-69, with Dan Fotu scoring 6 points, St Mary’s will have to wait to see if they participate in the National Championships.
Again, the omens are good for Kiwi involvement with St Mary’s putting together a 25-7 record and holding a national ranking of 17.
Grace Hunter scored 10 points on 5 from 7 shooting as Florida International University Panthers defeated Florida Atlantic 68-60 in the opening round of the Conference USA Tournament. That’s the 15th double digit scoring effort of the season for the former Porirua and Queen Margaret College standout.
Jessica Moors and Colorado State University Rams have advanced to the Mountain West Conference Final for the first time since 2016 after upsetting New Mexico 82-71 in the semi-final. Colorado State face top seed UNLV in the final.
