Led by Baylor and UT, Texas sees five teams reach women’s NCAA Tournament
The state of Texas will be well-represented in the women’s 2022 NCAA Tournament.
Topping the list of Texas schools are Baylor, the 2019 national champion, and Texas. The Longhorns defeated the Lady Bears, 67-58, Sunday in the Big 12 Tournament championship while the Bears won the Big 12 regular-season crown.
Both Baylor and Texas are no strangers in the NCAA Tournament. The Longhorns will be making their 33rd appearance, while the Lady Bears are making their 20th appearance since making their first tournament in 2001.
Another tournament regular is Stephen F. Austin, which also has played in 20 tournaments. The Ladyjacks, who won the WAC conference and tournament titles, are led by conference coach of the year Mark Kellogg.
University of Texas Arlington won its way into the tournament by winning the Sun Belt title in their final year in the conference. The Mavericks, who will be joining the WAC next season, last reached March Madness in 2007.
Incarnate Word finished fifth in the Southland Conference then went on a run in the conference tournament to earn its first berth in the tournament. The Cardinals defeated Southeastern Louisiana, 56-52, in overtime, to nab the title.
#16 Incarnate Word Cardinals at #16 Howard Bison
Wednesday, March 16, 2 p.m. — Greensboro Regional
What to look for: The Cardinals (13-16, 5-9 Southland) entered the conference tournament as the fifth seed, then won four games including beating Southeastern in the title game to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Incarnate Word sophomore guard Jaaucklyn Moore is the squad’s top scorer averaging 17.9 points per game. Moore has hit 64 of 211 three-pointers this season (30 percent). Sophomore guard Destiny Jackson, who played at Mansfield Summit, averages 8.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Jackson also has 63 steals. Junior guard Tiana Gardner gives the Cardinals a boost off the bench with 8.1 points per game.
Why Incarnate Word will advance: The Cardinals caught lightning in a bottle winning four games to take the Southland Tournament title. If they can do that again, they could advance. And the prize for advancing would be the top overall seed South Carolina, on their own floor, on Friday.
Why Incarnate Word will be one and done: Incarnate Word will be making its first appearance in March Madness, so there is no experience to draw on. The Cardinals don’t rebound well and that could cause trouble. Also, the Bison (20-9, 11-3 MEAC) are on a run of their own, winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament crown by averaging 22.3 points victories in their three games.
#2 Texas Longhorns vs. #15 Fairfield Stags
Friday, March 18 — Spokane Regional
What to look for: The Longhorns (26-6, 13-5 Big 12) have beaten opponents by an average of 15.9 points per game and shoot the ball well from the field (43.3 percent) and three-point range (35.8 percent). Texas gets great guard play from senior Joanne Allen-Taylor, junior Aliyah Matharu and freshman Rori Harmon. Matharu, who doesn’t start, leads the squad with 12.5 points per game and 5 steals. She makes 41 percent of her three-pointers. All-Big 12 Freshman of Year, Harmon scores 11.5 points per game and has racked up 152 assists. Allen-Taylor contributes 11.1 ppg. Senior post Lauren Ebo leads the team with 6.9 rebounds per game.
Why Texas will advance: The Longhorns can play defense and score a lot of points, plus they will be playing at home. Those factors bode well for Texas moving further in the bracket. The Stags (23-6, 19-1 MAAC) have won 15 straight games, but their lone game against a Top 25 team — No. 10 Indiana, back on Dec. 9 in Bloomington — was a 33-point defeat.
Why Texas will be one and done: If Texas, which is making its 33rd tournament appearance, slips up on defense and goes cold shooting, anything can happen. But that would have to be a whole lot of slipping, and some very, very cold shooting.
#2 Baylor Lady Bears vs. #15 Hawaii Rainbow Wahine
Friday, March 18 — Wichita Regional
What to look for: First-year coach Nicki Collen has the Bears on a roll. Baylor (27-6, 15-3 Big 12) is averaging 77 points per game while limiting opponents to 60.5 ppg. Baylor won its third national title in 2019 and is making its 20th trip to the NCAA Tournament. Pacing the Bears are Big 12 Player of the Year NaLyssa Smith and Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Jordan Lewis. Smith, a senior forward, averages 22.5 ppg and 11.5 rebounds per game. Lewis, a graduate transfer guard, scores 11.7 ppg and has 175 assists. Senior center Queen Ebo averages 10.9 ppg and 8.3 rpg. Sophomore guard Sarah Andrews has 146 assists and 11.1 ppg.
Why Baylor will advance: The Bears can move the ball around (17.6 assists per game and play roughed defense. Baylor has forced 400 turnovers and averages 16.2 ppg off those turnovers. Hawaii (20-9, 13-3) winners of the Big West Conference Tournament, will be hard-pressed to keep its season going against a seasoned Baylor squad.
Why Baylor will be one and done: Playing at home in Waco is a big benefit for the Bears. The odds are long that Baylor will be home early.
#3 Iowa State Cyclones vs. #14 UT Arlington Mavericks
Friday, March 18 — Greensboro Regional
What to look for: The Mavericks (20-7, 11-4 Sun Belt) will be looking for their first tournament victory after first-round losses in 2005 and 2007. UTA entered the Sun Belt tournament as the second-seed and defeated Troy, 76-61, to win the conference title. Junior guard Starr Jacobs, a standout at Duncanville, paces the Mavericks with 21.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Four senior guards Terryn Milton (12 ppg, 121 assists), a second-team All-Sun Belt selection; Alabama transfer De’Sha Benjamin (9.7 ppg); Claire Chastain (8.9 ppg. 25 blocks); and Katie Ferrell (121 assists, 20 blocks) give the Mavericks solid minutes and balanced scoring behind Jacobs.
Why UTA will advance: A deep senior class of seven, could pay off in a tight game and lead to a victory. The Mavericks can also move the ball around to find good shots (15.7 assists per game).
Why UTA will be one and done: Fouls could cause trouble for UTA, which uses a seven-player rotation. Either way, trying to get a victory on the Cyclones’ (26-6, 14-4 Big 12) home floor will be a mighty challenge.
#5 North Carolina Tar Heels vs. #12 Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks
Saturday, March 19 — Greensboro Regional
What to look for: The LadyJacks (28-4, 17-1 WAC) ran roughshod through the conference, sweeping both the regular season and tournament titles. SFA is a high-scoring crew averaging 75 points per game while hitting 32 percent of its three-pointers (226 of 691). Senior guard Stephanie Visscher can do it all. She averages 14.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game along with 96 assists and 82 steals. Senior post Aiyana Johnson, a second-team All-WAC honoree, contributes 14 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Johnson also has blocked 35 shots. Junior guard Zya Nugent, an All-WAC second-team pick, averages 12.4 points per game. The Ladyjacks are making their 20th tournament appearance. In last season’s tourney game, 12-seed SFA nearly took out 5-seed Georgia Tech, but lost in overtime, 56-52.
Why SFA will advance: The Ladyjacks have enough firepower to make them a dangerous first-round foe. SFA shoots 44.6 from the field while limiting opponents to 32.7 percent shooting. They also force 24.2 turnovers per game.
Why SFA will be one and done: If SFA’s shooting doesn’t materialize the Ladyjacks could have a tough go of things against the Tar Heels (23-6, 13-5 ACC).