Four Biggest Takeaways From Big 12 Women’s Second Round NCAA Tournament Games

Posted on March 24, 2024

Here are four takeaways from Big 12 Conference women’s NCAA Tournament basketball games on Sunday, as four of the league’s teams were in second-round action.

So what happened? Drama everywhere as two Big 12 teams advanced to the Sweet 16.

Here are four takeaways from the day.

THE JADA WALKER GAME

That’s what they’re going to call it in Waco.

Jada Walker scored 28 points in the Bears’ 75-72 win over Virginia Tech, a win that snapped the Hokies’ 26-game winning streak at Cassell Coliseum.

The rub? She scored 26 of those points in the second half.

It was a career-high for Walker, who scored what turned out to be the basket that would give the Bears control with 17 seconds left. Her lay-up drew the and-1 and her free throw gave the Bears a four-point lead.

Virginia Tech didn’t go away, of course, Georgia Amoore drained a 3-pointer with 15 seconds to keep it close. Walker was eventually fouled with five seconds left and made two more free throws to push the lead back to three.

Then a high IQ basketball play. Virginia Tech had no timeouts so they couldn’t advance the ball to midcourt. They had to inbound under their own basket. Walker guarded Amoore up the floor and waited until there was a second left to foul Amoore. Why? The Bears had a foul to give and Amoore had made her last two 3-pointers.

With a second left, all Amoore could do was throw a Hail Mary shot over her head with her back to the basket. She didn’t make it.

The Bears are in their 16th Sweet 16 and in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2021, which was Kim Mulkey’s last year in Waco.

DRAMA ON THE FARM

Iowa State and Stanford played to overtime in Palo Alto and it was, perhaps, the best game of the entire day. Stanford did win, 87-81, but there were dramatics aplenty.

Stanford’s Kiki Iriafen dropped 41 points for Stanford, two nights after Iowa State’s Audi Crooks posted 40 points against Maryland. Iriafen’s free throws late in overtime iced the game and her play was key as Stanford’s Cameron Brink fouled out in the fourth quarter.

Iowa State’s Emily Ryan also had a career game. She scored 36 points, including six 3-pointers. The Cyclones needed it as Stanford did everything possible to make life hard on Crooks, who had just 10 points.

Overtime was high-level basketball. The two teams combined for 36 points in five minutes. But the Cardinal made the shots late to advance.

The heartbreak is certainly real for Iowa State. But with five top-flight freshmen, plus Ryan, set to return next year, the future looks incredible.

TEXAS SWEET AGAIN

Vic Schaefer’s job when he took over at Texas was to restore the program to being a perennial Final Four team again. Well, for the third time in four seasons, he has the Longhorns in the Sweet 16.

Texas’ 65-54 win over future SEC rival Alabama saw Madison Booker and Aailyah Moore put up identical 21-point games. It didn’t leave much room for scoring from anyone else. And Texas only made two 3-pointers for the game after Shaylee Gonzales hit five in the first-round game victory.

But, as always, it’s about defense for Texas. The Longhorns held the Crimson Tide under 34% shooting. They blocked 11 shots. They forced 15 turnovers. They dominated the glass, 45-34.

Being a No. 1 seed I felt Texas was the Big 12’s best hope for reaching the Final Four and my mind hasn’t changed. I’m not sure I had that expectation when guard Rori Harmon tore her ACL in late December. But that’s the expectation now.

GAP GOAT NO MORE

Kansas State was unable to overcome Colorado, as the Wildcats lost at home, 63-50, to their former Big 8/Big 12 rival and future Big 12 rival on Sunday.

It was an offensive drought that got the Wildcats in the end. After taking a two-point lead into halftime, the Wildcats scored just 15 points in the second half.

Incredibly, Kansas State was only down six points in the fourth quarter and the Wildcats held Colorado without any points for more than six minutes. But the Wildcats only scored eight points in the fourth quarter. But Kansas State shot better than Colorado, believe it or not.

The real problem for K-State was its 22 turnovers. That’s too many in a game like that.

Gabby Gregory scored 12 points in her final game with Kansas State. Ayoka Lee was held 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. She’ll announce whether she’ll use her COVID waiver next season soon.

And, now, the Gap Goat can rest. But we’ll have this artful moment from K-State guard Serena Sundell to remember this one.