Washington, Ohio St., Illinois, and Oregon advance to the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament. Here's the day two recap.
#8 Washington defeat #9 USC, 76-64
After a close first quarter, Washington took control, and in the second half, they led by double figures throughout. Senior Elle Ladine scored a season-high 25 points, and sophomore Avery Howell added 18 points and nine rebounds. Big Ten freshman of the year Jazzy Davidson collided with Howell and injured her shoulder, severely affecting her for the rest of the game. This was trouble for USC because Davidson had led them in scoring, rebounding, and assists. However, Washington played well enough to win even if she had managed to stay in the game.
#5 Ohio State defeat. #13 Indiana, 83-59
Heroic Indiana rides off into the sunset with memories of their comeback win against Nebraska. Ohio St. had a strong second quarter, and at 7:35, senior Chance Gray hit a 3-pointer that put them ahead for good.
#10 Illinois defeat #7 Michigan State, 71-69
A close game ended in an intense final seconds. There was 31.9 on the clock, and Illinois, up by two, 71-69, was in-bounding the ball in the Michigan St. end. They successfully got the ball in, passed it around, and with 19 seconds left tried an ill-advised post pass that was knocked away. In the scramble, Illinois fouled giving the ball to Michigan St.
It was obvious that sophomore Kennedy Blair had to have the ball in her hands because she’d scored 30 points on 61% shooting (!!!). A scrambly Michigan St. possession led to a missed shot, a tap-out rebound, and Illinois knocking it out of bounds with 9.5 seconds left. In the previous possession, Blair had not touched the ball, but they got it to her on the in-bounds. Michigan St. ran the perfect play, a free-throw-line pick from senior Grace VanSlooten, which resulted in a downhill attack by Blair on freshman center Cearah Parchment, who was playing drop coverage. Instead of taking the jump shot–she was shooting 61%, so any open shot was a good one–she threw a poor pass towards senior Jalyn Brown, who could only touch it before it went out of bounds. Too bad.
#11 Oregon defeat #6 Maryland, 73-68
In another close game, Maryland’s defense held Oregon sophomore Ehis Etute to two points and sophomore Katie Fiso to zero in the first half. But the pair combined for 32 second-half points to lead Oregon to victory. Neither team led by double digits, with Maryland’s eight-point lead in the first quarter the largest of the game. Etute had the play of the game with a chase-down block on a fast break against Maryland senior Oluchi Okananwa. Although her post-defense on junior Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu with 35 seconds to go was clutch. Not only did she affect the shot without fouling but she did it with four fouls. Sterling play from the Luxembourger.