Women’s Basketball Games of the Week 2/27 – 3/2
Two very strong Monday matchups are on the agenda, but the women’s basketball picture this week looks quite similar to the men: Big matchups early in the week and a calm period following that as conference tournaments get underway. Upsets will happen, but the more likely outcome is great conference-final matchups to close out the final week and a half before the NCAA selections are announced.
No. 1 BAYLOR at No. 18 TEXAS A&M (7 p.m. Monday at Reed Arena in College Station, Texas)
The Big 12 Conference race has long been decided, as Baylor is ahead in the league race by five games. The Bears (29-0, 16-0) close with Texas A&M and Iowa State and have a great chance of finishing unbeaten. Baylor beat Texas A&M 71-48 earlier this season and knocked off Kansas 76-45 in its last game. The last close game Baylor played took place more recent than you might think, with a 56-51 win over Texas Tech earlier in February. Brittney Griner and Kimetria Hayden have been two of Baylor’s hotter-scoring players as of late. Texas A&M (20-7, 11-5) used Adaora Elonu’s 14 points to push to a 79-51 victory over Texas Tech.
No. 3 NOTRE DAME at No. 4 CONNECTICUT (9 p.m. Monday at XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut)
A game so big it has to be moved from Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, which is where Connecticut usually plays its contests. The Big East women’s tournament will take place here beginning later in the week, but for now enjoy this big matchup. Notre Dame (27-2, 14-1) leads the Big East by one game over Connecticut, and it knocked off the Huskies 74-67 in overtime back in January. Notre Dame has a three-game winning streak with victories against Providence, Louisville and South Florida. This is the regular-season finale for both programs. Connecticut (26-3, 13-2), like Notre Dame against West Virginia, is recovering from an unexpected loss to St. John’s, and the Huskies trounced Pittsburgh and Marquette in recent games.
SAM HOUSTON STATE at STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (8 p.m. Tuesday at Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville, Texas)
The Southland Conference is one of the few coming down to the wire in the last games, and both the East and West Division feature close matchups. Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin are tied for the Southland West lead, and since there are two games remaining in the regular season the winner of this game isn’t necessarily safe. Sam Houston State (15-10, 10-4) lost 69-67 to Stephen F. Austin earlier this season, but the Bearkats have won five of six games as of late. Stephen F. Austin (20-7, 10-4) has won five in a row, including a 72-60 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
COLORADO STATE at UNLV (10 p.m. Wednesday at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada)
San Diego State has already won the Mountain West Conference title, but these two schools are two games behind and battling for the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. Colorado State (13-15, 9-4) started the first half of the season with a 4-11 record but has since recovered for a strong showing in league play. The Rams just lost to Wyoming and New Mexico but topped San Diego State by three points in Mountain West play. UNLV (21-8, 9-4) has won four in a row following a three-game losing streak. Colorado State beat UNLV 74-62 earlier in the season, so the Rams may have the upper hand in the matchup despite UNLV having the better record.
