Girls’s NCAA match 2022 – Reseeding the Elite Eight

If you happen to went chalk in your 2022 ladies’s NCAA match bracket, you may nonetheless be in fairly good condition. The No. 1 seeds every superior to the Elite Eight. The reseeding on the prime does not want a lot adjustment besides to account for a way spectacular the Stanford Cardinal have been. The reigning nationwide champions moved to the No. 1 general spot heading into the Candy 16, and so they stay on the prime forward of the regional finals.

With a pair of No. 2 seeds alongside for the trip — the UConn Huskies and Texas Longhorns — a match that had supplied probably the most wins by double-digit seeds in ladies’s NCAA match historical past has settled right into a march of heavyweights over the ultimate two days of video games earlier than we attain Minneapolis.

No. 10 Creighton crashed the social gathering as the primary double-digit seed to succeed in the Elite Eight in 5 years. The Bluejays have shocked everybody outdoors of Omaha, Nebraska, and have given the Large East — the eighth-rated convention within the nation, in line with the NET, behind each the West Coast Convention and the American — extra groups within the Elite Eight (two) than the SEC, the Large Ten, the Large 12 or the Pac-12.

The Large 12 had 4 groups among the many top-four seeds. Just one is left. The Large Ten put 4 groups within the Candy 16 and solely despatched one to the Elite Eight.

Certain, 4 No. 1 seeds are nonetheless alive, however this has been a wild match. This is how we rank the sphere now that the regional finals are set.

1. Stanford Cardinal
Unique seed: No. 1
Elite Eight seed: No. 1 general
2022 NCAA match report: Defeated No. 16 Montana State 78-37; defeated Kansas 91-65; defeated Maryland 72-66

Minus the final six minutes of Friday’s sport in opposition to Maryland, the Cardinal have been one of the best group within the NCAA match and maintain on to the highest spot. Friday’s full shutdown of Maryland was one other instance that Stanford has a number of methods to win. This time it was a protection that held the sixth-highest-scoring group within the nation to 33.8% taking pictures and received the rebounding battle 50-32. Even higher information for Stanford: Haley Jones had 17 factors, 10 rebounds and 6 assists after totaling 11 factors within the first two wins. One doable trigger for concern because the Cardinal put together for the defensive depth of Texas: Up 21, Stanford dedicated 4 turnovers and missed 5 free throws within the closing 5:40 on Friday when the Terps cranked up the strain.

Up subsequent: vs. Texas (Sunday, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN)

2. South Carolina Gamecocks
Unique seed: No. 1 general
Elite Eight seed: No. 1
2022 match report: Defeated No. 16 Howard 79-21; defeated Miami 49-33; defeated North Carolina 69-61

Daybreak Staley has mentioned that the Gamecocks are going to win with their protection and rebounding. That evaluation was on show in Friday’s win over North Carolina. Whereas a lot better than within the 49-point second-round efficiency in opposition to Miami, the offense nonetheless sputtered for stretches, particularly within the second half. However 25 offensive rebounds that the Gamecocks changed into 27 second-chance factors wiped away the imperfections. Aliyah Boston, who had 12 of these offensive rebounds (and 22 whole), scored 28 factors on the day many nationwide participant of the 12 months ballots had been due. Regardless of making an encouraging 7 of 19 3-pointers, South Carolina won’t have escaped the Candy 16 with out Boston’s dominance within the paint.

Up subsequent: vs. Creighton (Sunday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN)

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NC State overcomes a late deficit and takes house the win to advance to the second Elite Eight in program historical past.

3. NC State Wolfpack
Unique seed: No. 1
Elite Eight seed: No. 1
2022 match report: Defeated No. 16 Longwood 96-68; defeated Kansas State 89-57; defeated Notre Dame 66-63

Raina Perez has most likely performed 100 higher video games than the one she had on Saturday. However she has by no means had a extra essential 21 seconds. The steal on Notre Dame’s Dara Mabrey and subsequent layup gave the Wolfpack their first lead for the reason that second quarter. Then after a Maddy Westbeld missed 3-pointer, 5-foot-Four Perez made the essential defensive rebound. The 2 free throws that adopted iced NC State’s first journey to the Elite Eight since 1998. Perez was solely 2-of-9 from the sphere with seven factors and two assists, however her performs on the finish of the sport prolonged her personal profession and people of teammates Elissa Cunane, Kai Crutchfield and Kayla Jones. A second consecutive loss within the Candy 16 would have been devastating for this group of gamers who’ve in any other case been so profitable over the previous three seasons.

Up subsequent: vs. UConn (Monday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN)

4. Louisville Cardinals
Unique seed: No. 1
Elite Eight seed: No. 1
2022 match report: Defeated No. 16 Albany 83-51; defeated Gonzaga 68-57; defeated Tennessee 76-64

Emily Engstler scored 20 factors within the Cardinals’ regional semifinal win over Tennessee — and that’s the least useful contribution she makes to Louisville’s success. The senior’s 2.6 steals per sport and 1.Eight blocks per sport anchor a protection that Her Hoops Stats ranks because the sixth greatest within the nation. Engstler gives fixed vitality and is a relentless rebounder. On Saturday, Engstler grabbed 10 boards and blocked three photographs, and he or she joined forces with Olivia Cochran and Liz Dixon to just about get rid of the Girl Vols’ best power: its frontcourt. Tennessee’s Alexus Dye and Tamari Key mixed for simply 12 factors on 4-for-17 taking pictures. That’s the reason the Cardinals are of their fourth straight Elite Eight and firmly stay on the No. 1 line.

Up subsequent: vs. TBD (Monday, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN)

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UConn comes out of halftime with a blistering 16-Zero scoring run in opposition to Indiana.

5. UConn Huskies
Unique seed: No. 2
Elite Eight seed: No. 2
2022 match report: Defeated No. 15 Mercer 83-38; defeated UCF 52-47; defeated Indiana 75-58

The 16-Zero run to begin the third quarter in opposition to Indiana on Saturday was classic UConn: offensive execution, relentless offensive rebounding and swarming inside protection. That 4:45 stretch finally determined the sport, and contemplating the extent of competitors, it was one of the best the Huskies have appeared since Paige Bueckers‘ return. The Hoosiers are a veteran group. They’ve been on this second earlier than. However Indiana had no reply for the UConn assault. All through the remainder of the sport, the Huskies’ scoring steadiness and the rebounding of Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Aaliyah Edwards saved Indiana at arm’s size. The 2 UConn posts mixed for 24 rebounds, 10 on the offensive finish to maintain quite a few possessions alive. The Huskies’ taking pictures was a large enchancment over Monday’s 29% in opposition to UCF, however they nonetheless made solely 5 of 20 3-pointers, and so they missed six free throws. These numbers will not be classic UConn.

Up subsequent: vs. NC State (Monday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN)

6. Texas Longhorns
Unique seed: No. 2
Elite Eight seed: No. 2
2022 match report: Defeated No. 15 Fairfield 70-52; defeated Utah 78-56; defeated Ohio State 66-63

In the course of the celebration after the win over the Buckeyes, Texas coach Vic Schaefer might be heard telling Aaliyah Moore how huge her block was. He was referring to the freshman’s denial of Taylor Thierry‘s quick jumper that might have given Ohio State a one-point lead with 18 seconds left Friday. It wasn’t simply huge. It was essential. Texas then prevented the Buckeyes from even getting a shot off on their closing possession. Because it has all season, protection paved the best way for the Longhorns and their second straight journey to the Elite Eight. Veterans headlined Texas final season, however a nine-player rotation that features three sophomores and two freshmen leads the best way now. Two of the rookies, Moore and Rori Harmon, acquired their introduction to big-time faculty basketball within the second sport of the season, an upset win over the identical Stanford group they are going to be enjoying for a berth to the Last 4.

Up subsequent: vs. Stanford (Sunday, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN)

7. Michigan Wolverines
Unique seed: No. 3
Elite Eight seed: No. 2
2022 match report: Defeated No. 14 American 74-39; defeated Villanova 64-49; defeated South Dakota 52-49

Michigan’s first journey to the Elite Eight was well-earned. Having to play South Dakota has proved robust sufficient, however as a result of the Coyotes’ followers confirmed up by the 1000’s to INTRUST Financial institution Enviornment in Wichita, Kansas, the Candy 16 matchup grew to become a de facto street sport for the Wolverines in among the best atmospheres within the match. And it was a slugfest between two bodily groups. Naz Hillmon grew to become the primary star put up participant within the match with any sort of success in opposition to the South Dakota protection, and the Wolverines wanted each one among her 17 factors and 10 rebounds. In addition they wanted missed 3s by South Dakota’s Chloe Lamb and Kyah Watson within the final 19 seconds to outlive what was among the best video games of the previous two weekends.

Up subsequent: vs. Louisville (Monday, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN)

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Monica McNutt breaks down what Creighton should do to drag off an upset in opposition to Aliyah Boston and top-seeded South Carolina.

8. Creighton Bluejays
Unique seed: No. 10
Elite Eight seed: No. 2
2022 match report: Defeated No. 7 Colorado 84-74; defeated Iowa 64-62; defeated Iowa State 76-68

Add the Bluejays to the lengthy listing of groups proving that end-of-season momentum has no correlation to NCAA match success. Creighton misplaced its final two video games in Large East play, then had almost two weeks off. And now the Bluejays have overwhelmed Colorado, Iowa and Iowa State. Coach Jim Flanery acquired his group refocused on what it does greatest — share the ball, depend on one another and shoot 3-pointers — which fueled Creighton’s run to the Elite Eight, the place it is the primary double-digit seed within the regional closing since 2017. With the Bluejays’ unfold offense and affinity for 3-point taking pictures — they rank third within the nation in made 3-pointers per sport — it is no secret what they will do. The query is which participant goes to do it. Emma Ronsiek was the Bluejays’ main scorer within the common season (14.7 factors per sport). She scored two factors within the upset of the Cyclones. Morgan Maly comes off the bench and has led Creighton in scoring in two of the three match video games.

Up subsequent: vs. South Carolina (Sunday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN)