NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament: Live Updates
March 24, 2021, 9:30 p.m. ET
No. 2 seed Texas A&M notched the first buzzer beater in March Madness with a dramatic Jordan Nixon jumper as time expired in overtime to give the Aggies an 84-82 win over No. 7 seed Iowa State. The Cyclones led by as much as 12, but the Aggies came back and Nixon delivered the first buzzer beater win in either the men’s or women’s tournaments this year.
No. 2 seed Texas A&M beats No. 7 seed Iowa State, 84-82, in overtime.
The Aggies got 35 points from Jordan Nixon, including the winning basket, as they rallied to beat the Cyclones.
March 24, 2021, 9:25 p.m. ET
No. 3 seed Arizona came out on top after a tightly fought game, beating No. 11 seed Brigham Young University, 52-46. Neither team ever led by more than 6 as the two grappled. It was the Wildcats who earned their program’s second Sweet 16 berth, and their first since head coach Adia Barnes was Arizona’s star player in 1998.
“All or nothing, just do it or die,” Arizona senior Aari McDonald said in a television interview after the game. She finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds. “I definitely didn’t want to go home, so I had to just suck it up and leave it all on the court.”
McDonald hit her first 3-point shot in the middle of the fourth quarter. Brigham Young followed with a shot clock violation and then the Wildcats took back the lead.
“We know that defense starts our offense, and I’m the catalyst,” McDonald said. “Second half, I took pride in my defense and we got the job done.”
Trinity Baptiste fouled out in the final minute after racking up 11 rebounds and after making a potentially game-saving play by tipping one of McDonald’s misses back out to the normally sharpshooting guard. McDonald was then able to make a driving layup that effectively sealed the game.
After the Wildcats shot some free throws, the Cougars had one last chance — a chance that McDonald generated with a steal with nine seconds left before hitting one more layup on her way to her first Sweet 16.
March 24, 2021, 9:09 p.m. ET
Two top W.N.B.A. prospects are playing in the game between No. 6 seed Texas and No. 3 seed UCLA: Longhorn Charli Collier and Bruin Michaela Onyenwere are both projected as top-10 draft picks.
No. 3 seed Arizona beats No. 11 seed Brigham Young University, 52-46.
Aari McDonald had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Arizona.
March 24, 2021, 8:29 p.m. ET
No. 11 seed Brigham Young and No. 3 seed Arizona were tied, 37-37, going into the fourth quarter. The Cougars are seeking their third-ever Sweet 16 berth; the Wildcats, their second.
March 24, 2021, 7:33 p.m. ET
Fourth-seeded Indiana has punched its first-ever ticket to the Sweet 16 with a 70-48 blowout win over No. 12 seed Belmont, keeping the Bruins from an upset run. It is Hoosiers Coach Teri Moren’s first trip to the round of 16.
Four of five starters scored at least 10 points each for the Hoosiers. The fifth, 6-foot-3 junior Aleksa Gulbe, had 9 points and 15 rebounds.
“A lot of the things she does don’t show up on the stat sheet,” said Grace Berger, who had 17 points in the game and has the most triple-doubles in Division I this season. “To see her get 15 rebounds is big time, but it’s nothing she doesn’t do for us every game.”
Belmont was able to stay within range through the first half, but Indiana pulled away and had the Bruins in foul trouble in the second half. While the Hoosiers made 14 free throws, Belmont was able to make just one, preventing the Bruins from staying competitive.
“We’re really excited — that’s an understatement,” Berger added. “But we also know we’re not done yet.”
March 24, 2021, 7:27 p.m. ET
The crowd is loud at the Iowa State and Texas A&M game — especially for No. 7 seed Iowa State. The Cyclones had a 10-point lead over the No. 2 Aggies after the first quarter, when Aubrey Joens made a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
March 24, 2021, 7:16 p.m. ET
Following an abysmal first half, No. 2 seed Louisville flexed its starting rotation and stormed back for a 62-53 win over No. 7 seed Northwestern to earn a berth in the Sweet 16. The Cardinals outscored the Wildcats 55-28 in the second half.
Louisville scored a season-low 20 points in the first half and trailed by as much as 18. But the Cardinals posted 20 points in the third quarter and held the Wildcats to 8.
Their 18-point comeback was tied for the third largest comeback in the women’s…