NCAA women’s tournament: Columbia, SC, glance
A quick glimpse at the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament games set to be played this weekend in Columbia.
(1) SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS (31-1)
League (record): SEC (16-0)
Top scorers: F A’ja Wilson (16.4), G Tiffany Mitchell (15.0)
Nickname: Gamecocks. Coach: Dawn Staley.
Conference: Southeastern. Bid: Automatic
Region: Sioux Falls. Seed: No. 1.
Tournament Record: 17-12. Last Appearance: 2015
Scoring: (73.5); A'ja Wilson 16.4; Tiffany Mitchell 15.0; Alaina Coates 11.6.
Rebounds: (40.5); Alaina Coates 10.1, Aja Wilson 8.7; Sarah Imovbioh 4.9.
Assists: Team (14.6) Tiffany Mitchell 2.5; Tina Roy 2.3; Khadijah Sessions 2.2
3-Pointers: Team (.331); Tina Roy 58; Tiffany Mitchell 57.
Last Ten: 9-1.
The Skinny: The Gamecocks continued their undefeated streak against SEC teams by winning the SEC Tournament title after closing the regular-season with just the second 16-0 SEC record in league history. South Carolina has been ranked among the top three in the nation for 36 straight weeks, and the Gamecocks are among the most balanced teams in the country, ranking among the nation’s top 20 in both field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense. … They have allowed an opponent to score 65 or more points just four times this season while averaging 73.5 points per game to rank 35th in the nation. … South Carolina boasts three All-SEC First-Team selections for the second-straight season, including A'ja Wilson, who became just the second player in league history to earn SEC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors in the same season
(8) GEORGE WASHINGTON COLONIALS (26-6)
League (record): Atlantic 10 (13-3)
Top scorers: F Johnquel Jones (16.0), F Caira Washington (13.4)
Nickname: Colonials. Coach: Jonathan Tsipis.
Conference: Atlantic 10. Bid: Automatic.
Region: Sioux Falls. Seed: No. 8.
Tournament Record: 18-16. Last Appearance: 2015.
Scoring: (71.8); Jonquel Jones 16.0; Caira Washington 13.4; Hannah Schaible 10.4.
Rebounds: (48.6); Jonquel Jones 14.7; Caira Washington 8.7; Hannah Schaible 6.0.
Assists: Team (16.1); Lauren Chase 6.0; Jonquel Jones 2.4.
3-pointers: Team (.315); Shannon Cranshaw 32; Mei-Lyn Bautista 25; Kelli Prange 20.
Last Ten: 7-3.
The Skinny: Atlantic 10 champion GW makes its second straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament after winning the league title for the second year in a row. … Jonquel Jones and Caira Washington help the Colonials lead the nation in rebounding (48.6 rpg).
(9) KANSAS STATE WILDCATS (18-12)
League (record): Big 12 (8-10)
Top scorers: C Breanna Lewis (16.7), G Kindred Wesemann (12.5)
Nickname: Wildcats. Coach: Jeff Mittie.
Conference: Big 12. Bid: At-large.
Region: Sioux Falls. Seed: No. 9.
Tournament Record: 11-13. Last Appearance: 2012.
Scoring: (65.3); Breanna Lewis 16.7; Kindred Wesemann 12.5; Megan Deines 9.7.
Rebounds (35.8); Breanna Lewis 7.5; Shaelyn Martin 6.8
Assists: Team (15.0) Shaelyn Martin 3.5; Kindred Wesemann 3.1.
3-pointers: Team (.328); Kindred Wesemann 82; Kaylee Page 42.
Last Ten: 4-6.
The Skinny: The Wildcats won eight league games for the first time since the 2011-12 season. … Led by All-Big 12 First Team recipient and Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection Breanna Lewis, who is one of two players in the nation (Breanna Stewart, Connecticut) with 500 or more points, 200 or more rebounds, 70 or more blocks and 45 or more steals. … Senior Megan Deines, a transfer from Louisville, has played in four conferences in her career (Big East, America, ACC and Big 12). She had 22 points against West Virginia in the Big 12 Championship quarterfinals.
(16) JACKSONVILLE DOLPHINS (22-10)
League (record): Atlantic Sun (11-3)
Top scorers: G Sherranda Reddick (12.4), F Briona Brown (11.7)
Nickname: Dolphins. Coach: Yolett McPhee-McCuin.
Conference: Atlantic Sun. Bid: Automatic.
Region: Sioux Falls. Seed: No. 16.
Tournament Record: First Appearance.
Scoring: (65.7); Sherranda Reddick 12.4; Briona Brown 11.7; Christian Mercer 10.7.
Rebounds: (41.9); Kayla Gordon 7.9; Briona Brown 6.7; Kimberly Dawkins 6.4.
Assists: Team (12.4); Brandi Buie 2.6; Jasmyn Brown 2.0; Sherranda Reddick 1.9.
3-pointers: Team (.309); Sherranda Reddick 63; Briona Brown 40.
Last 10: 8-2.
The Skinny: The Dolphins advanced to their first tournament with an upset of Florida Gulf Coast in the conference championship game as Brandi Buie scored with 3.4 seconds left. … Jacksonville has won 20 or more games three times in their 16-year history.
NCAA tournament Columbia game schedule
Who: Jacksonville (22-10) at South Carolina (31-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Colonial Life Arena
TV: ESPN2
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Who: George Washington (26-6) vs. Kansas State (18-12)
When: 5 p.m. Friday
Where: Colonial Life Arena
TV: ESPN2
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Tickets: Single-session tickets for the first and second rounds will go on sale at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 15. Reserved seating in the lower bowl has sold out, but general admission seating is available for $15 (adult) for the first round (both games) and $12 (adult) for the second round. Youth, University faculty/staff and group pricing is also available. Booklets for the entire weekend are available for $23 and include a general admission ticket for each round. Purchase ticket booklets by calling 1-800-4SC-FANS, visiting the Colonial Life Arena box office during regular business hours or going online at GamecocksOnline.com. Single-sessions tickets are available at TicketMaster.com.
This story was originally published March 15, 2016 at 12:05 AM with the headline "NCAA women’s tournament: Columbia, SC, glance."