Breaking down the NCAA women's brackets
Brittney Griner, right, is a dominant force in the middle for Baylor. Credit: Kansas City Star / Allison Long
Story lines
Two-time champ UConn still No. 1
UConn’s winning streak was halted at 90 games earlier this season by Stanford, but that doesn’t mean Geno Auriemma’s crew isn’t the team to beat. Losing two starters to graduation and one to a season-ending injury didn’t slow down the Huskies much. The games may have been a little closer, but the Huskies still emerged No. 1 in the final AP and ESPN/USA Today polls. Senior forward Maya Moore is the best player in the country, while junior guard Tiffany Hayes and North Babylon graduate Bria Hartley emerged as serious contributors.
If UConn loses, what’s Plan "B"?
Anyone looking for a new national champion to pencil into their bracket will have several options. Stanford already proved it could be the next champ after its 71-59 win over Connecticut on Dec. 30 that halted the Huskies’ streak. Baylor and 6-8 Brittney Griner came up short against the Huskies, 65-64, in November. Who knows what a rematch could bring. Tennessee, which will make its 30th tournament appearance, is back to its old ways and could be the team. Notre Dame, one of nine Big East teams in the tourney, played the Huskies tough during the regular season in a 79-76 loss and is a dark horse to watch out for.
Middle Tennessee State presses on
A dream season turned into a nightmare for Middle Tennessee State. The Raiders are mourning the loss of junior point guard Tina Stewart, who was stabbed to death on March 2. Stewart's roommate, 18-year-old Shanterrica Madden, was charged with first-degree murder. The Raiders lost their first game in the Sun Belt Conference tournament but still received an at-large bid and will face Georgia in a first-round game on Sunday in the Dallas Region.
Two teams everyone wants to avoid
Xavier: The Musketeers have been knocking on the door for two years and went on a great run last season before falling to Stanford, 55-53, in the Elite 8. Xavier’s talented senior frontcourt duo of Ta’Shia Phillips and Amber Harris are poised to get it done this season.
DePaul: The Blue Demons have everything it takes to make a run: size, speed and balanced scoring. DePaul has four players averaging in double figures and beat Stanford, 91-71.
Love for the mid-majors?
For the second year in a row, three mid-major programs received at-large bids. Louisiana Tech (24-7), Houston (26-5) and Middle Tennessee State (23-7) all got the nod. As for the mid-majors that received automatic bids, BCS conference schools beware: Marist (30-2) is riding a 26-game winning streak and Wisconsin-Green Bay (32-1) has won 23 straight.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brittney Griner, Soph., Baylor: Griner had another All-American season, averaging 22.6 points and 4.5 blocks per game.
Amber Harris and Ta’Shia Phillips, Seniors, Xavier: No frontcourt duo has done more together than Harris (18.8 ppg, 10.3 reb) and Phillips (15.9 ppg, 12.2 reb).
Maya Moore, Sr., Connecticut: There isn’t a more complete player in the country. If Moore gets it going from three-point range, she’s unstoppable.
Jeanette Pohlen, Sr., Stanford: Pohlen does her best work in the biggest games. She had 31 points and nine rebounds in Stanford’s win over UConn.
Danielle Robinson, Sr., Oklahom: A one-woman wrecking crew, Robinson is a great scorer (18.4 ppg) as well as a top-notch distributor (4.8 assists).
LOCAL PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kristine Best, Jr., Marist (St. Anthony’s): Averaged almost two points and two assists in 32 games off the bench for the Red Foxes.
Bria Hartley, Fresh., Connecticut (North Babylon): Hartley has made a huge impact in some of the biggest games.
Eugeneia McPherson, So., St. John’s (North Babylon): Became a big part of St. John’s run, playing in all 31 games with eight starts.
Samantha Prahalis, Jr., Ohio State (Commack): One of the top playmakers around, finished third in the country in assists (6.8).
Final Four Prediction
Connecticut will breeze through the Philadelphia Region and top Duke in what should be a spirited game in the Elite 8. The Huskies knock off old rival Tennessee in a national semifinal to remember. On the other side of the bracket, Baylor will emerge from the Dallas Region after beating Texas A & M for a fourth time this season in the Elite 8. The surprise will come from the Spokane Region. Second-seeded Xavier will upset No. 1-seed Stanford and make its first trip to the Final Four.
Connecticut will edge Baylor for its third straight national championship and the eighth for Auriemma.
