Women’s Basketball Games of the Week 2/20 – 2/24
No. 7 OHIO STATE at No. 8 PENN STATE (7 p.m. Monday at Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pennsylvania)
This is the big matchup, the one that will likely decide the Big Ten Conference title. Or will it? Ohio State (23-3, 10-3) has lost to Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois since the beginning of the year, and as of now the Buckeyes are a half-game behind Penn State (21-5, 11-3) in the standings. Penn State’s losses have come against Michigan State (twice), Nebraska, Delaware and Texas Tech. The Nittany Lions clinch the Big Ten with this victory, but an Ohio State win puts the Buckeyes in first by a half-game over Penn State and takes the conference race all the way to the end. Penn State faces Minnesota in the last game, while Ohio State finishes with Nebraska.
No. 19 VANDERBILT at No. 14 KENTUCKY (9 p.m. Monday at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky)
For Vanderbilt (20-6, 8-5) this is the last chance for the Commodores to have a shot at the Southeastern Conference title. A win here would be a big spoiler to Kentucky’s title hopes as well. Vanderbilt is two and a half games behind Tennessee in the SEC standings. The Commodores also have a chance to finish strong with games against LSU and Alabama. Kentucky (21-5, 10-3) is a half-game behind Tennessee and would love to overtake the Lady Vols for the league title. The problem for Kentucky is its three-game losing streak with defeats against LSU, Tennessee and Alabama. This is not a game with SEC title hopes for Vanderbilt, most likely, but for Kentucky this game means everything in the world.
TOLEDO at EASTERN MICHIGAN (7 p.m. Tuesday at Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan)
The Mid-American Conference West Division is a deadlock between these teams. First place is on the line in Ypsilanti, although the loser is certainly not out of the MAC race by any means. Toledo (18-7, 11-2) lost to Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan in MAC play, with the loss to Eagles by four points (70-66). Toledo has won 10 games in a row, including a 76-50 win over Western Michigan in the second go-round for these teams. Eastern Michigan (19-7, 11-2) has losses to Ball State and Bowling Green on its record, and it has a seven-game winning streak currently on the line. EMU closes with Ball State and Central Michigan, so even if the Eagles win here they can’t be complacent.
WICHITA STATE at ILLINOIS STATE (8:30 p.m. Thursday at Redbird Arena in Normal, Illinois)
The Missouri Valley Conference is down to a three-team race between these two teams and Missouri State. This is going to be an interesting finish, especially if the game is as entertaining as Illinois State’s 68-59 win over Wichita State was. Wichita State (17-8, 11-3) still has three games remaining on its schedule following this; the Missouri Valley goes into March with its schedule. Illinois State (15-10, 10-4) is coming off a 66-51 win over Drake and could propel itself into the driver’s seat with a win over the Shockers. Missouri State happens to be the next team on the schedule following Wichita State, so back-to-back wins would put the Redbirds in a cushy place.
No. 5 MIAMI at No. 9 DUKE (7 p.m. Friday at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina)
Just like the MAC West, the Atlantic Coast Conference is deadlocked between the Hurricanes and Blue Devils, and a win by either team wouldn’t end the conference fight but it would sure help the chances. Miami (24-3, 13-1) has lost to Georgetown, Tennessee and North Carolina, all three of which were ranked at the time, and this is the only time all season Miami will see Duke. The Blue Devils (22-4, 13-1) have losses to four ranked teams, Notre Dame, Kentucky, Connecticut and Maryland, and they have a harder test ahead. While Miami closes its season with Boston College, Duke has a date with North Carolina at season’s end.
