Guru's College Report: Drexel Keeps Rolling While La Salle Takes A-10 Opener
By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru
The regular season came to a happy ending for Drexel Wednesday night and included another tough loss for Delaware in the Colonial Athletic Association.
The postseason lasted just one game for Penn State, whose rally fell short in the opening of the Big Ten tournament at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., to conclude the most miserable season in the eight years coach Coquese Washington has had to guide the Lady Lions.
Finally, in terms of the four Guru’s local Division I squads that saw action, La Salle made the best of being relegated to opening day play in the Atlantic 10 tournament at the Richmond Coliseum in Virginia and had several Explorers set career highs in the quick dispatch of new member Davidson.
Let’s begin on the highest of notes up in Boston where a 10-hour bus trip to get to Northeastern on Tuesday did not hamper Drexel 24 hours later as the Dragons continued on momentum with a sixth straight victory 58-42 heading into next week’s CAA tournament at the Showplace Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md.,
Sarah Curran was the tops on offensive side of things in another defensive showing by scoring 17 points for the Dragons (20-9, 14-4 CAA), who reached the 20 win total for the fifth time since becoming Division I competitors and also posted their second best CAA win total since joining the conference.
Alexis Smith scored 16 points against the 10th and last place Huskies (4-24, 1-17), whom Drexel as the second seed could see again next Friday night in the tournament quarterfinals if Northeastern upsets seventh-seeded Delaware in one of two Thursday openers a week from now.
Alexis Smith also scored in double digits for the Dragons with 16 points while all of Jamila Thompson’s eight points were collected at the foul line.
Meanwhile, Delaware, two years removed from owning the conference with the second of two perfect records, suffered another narrow setback, this time losing at CAA newcomer Elon 77-76 in overtime to fall to the seventh seed and play an opening conference tournasment day game against Northeastern.
Joy Caracciolo had her third straight 20-point outing with 21 for the Blue Hens (13-16, 8-10), who will not be WNIT eligible because to be .500 or over they would need to get to the title game for the fifth straight season and win it, which would send them joyously on to the NCAAs on the path they also succeeded in 2012 and 2013.
A loss at that point would drop them to 16-17.
Courtni Green had 17 points and a layup with 12 seconds left to force overtime when Elon (18-11, 11-7), who will be the fourth seed, couldn’t counter and then Erika Brown, who scored 16 points, missed at a chance to win as regulation expired.
The Blue Hens also got 12 points from Hannah Jardine. They missed two shots at the close of overtime to yield the game to Elon.
It’s the fourth straight game Delaware held a halftime lead it couldn’t mine into a victory. Overall, the Blue Hens have dropped five straight, the longest losing streak since 2009, the year before current WNBA superstar Elena Delle Donne decided to return to basketball and play for them.
“I’m definitely disappointed,” Delaware coach Tina Martin said. “Disappointed for the kids, disappointed for everybody.
“We played our butts off tonight. It’s frustrating when you have a chance to build a lead and go up and you’re unable to. The bottom line is we missed too many free throws and gave up too many offensive rebounds.
“We’re playing harder than we have all year long and I’m proud of them from that standpoint.”
At the top of the bracket, James Madison, the defending CAA champs who recently enjoyed a brief return for one week to the Associated Press women’s poll, finished out at home in Harrisonburg, Va., with a 107-58 rout of Charleston to tie a program recored for most points in a game by the Dukes (26-3, 17-1)..
Charleston dropped to 5-24 overall and 3-15 in the league.
Hofstra ( 18-11, 11-7), who had already clinched the third seed, the Pride’s highest since 2004), was edged on the road 76-75, at UNCW (14-15, 10-8).
With the third seed, like JMU, Drexel, and Elon, the Pride have a bye into Friday’s quarterfinals facing sixth-seeded William & Mary (15-14, 9-9).
The other opening round play-in game besides the Delaware-Northeastern matchup Thursday has eighth-seeded Towson (10-20, 6-12) facing ninth-seeded Charleston. The winner meets James Madison Friday.
The other Friday quarterfinal has Elon as the fourth seed meeting fifth-seeded UNCW.
Penn State Drops Big Ten Opener to Indiana
Tied for last with bottom-seeded Purdue a year after being the top seed in the conference, 13th-seeded Penn State chased Indiana most of the day in a Big Ten play-in round game before losing to the 12th-seeded Hoosiers 68-63 to finish the season 6-24 overall and 3-15 in the recently completed conference competition.
Penn State had some hope when Peyton Whitted scored with 1:01 left in regulation to bring the Lady :ions within a field goal but Indiana (15-15, 4-14) got a three-point play and three foul shots to advance to Thursday’s first round against fifth-seeded and 23rd-ranked Rutgers (221-8, 12-6), which just beat the Hoosiers 71-60 at home in Sunday’s regular season finale..
Sierra Moore scored 18 points for the Lady Lions in the Penn State game while Kaliyah Mitchell jad 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Candice Agee scored 14.
Amanda Cahill had a career-high 20 points for Indiana.
Purdue, the 14th seed, snapped an 10-game losing streak to beat 11th-seeded Wisconsin 58-56 closing the game with a 10-3 run over the Badgers (9-20, 5-14).
The Boilermakers, who will meet sixth-seeded Minnesota in the next round Thursday, became the first 14th seed to advance in the tournament.
Whitney Bays had 16 points for Purdue (11-19, 4-15) while Dakota Whyte had 16 for Wisconsin.
La Salle Grabs A-10 Opener
Micahya Owens, one of several Explorers to set a career mark, scored 24 points as 11th-seeded La Salle took a 74-63 win over 14th-seeded Davidson (5-25), who got 23 points from Hannah Early.
The Explorers will meet sixth-seeded Rhode Island, a vastly improved squad, in Thursday’s overall first round in Richmond, Va., at the Coliseum.
Rookie Ashanti Freeland set personal marks for points with nine and rebounds with 10. Alicia Cropper added 11 points to the Explorers’ attack.
Siobhan Beslow added to the career theme with 13 rebounds to go with her 14 points for a double double.
Meanwhile 7th-seeded Saint Joseph’s opens Thursday against 10th-seeded George Mason and the winner meets No. 2 Dayton, one of four teams with a double bye, on Friday in the quarterfinals.
Top-seeded George Washington gets either 8th-seeded VCU or 9th-seeded Saint Louis on Friday while third-seeded Duquesne gets the winner of the La Salle-Rhode Island game.
Fourth-seeded Fordham, the defending tournament champions, will meet either fifth-seeded Richmond, which on Thursday meets 13th-seeded Massachusetts, which advanced Wednesday beating 12th-seeded St. Bonaventure, 54-49.
Kim Pierre-Louis had 22 points for UMass while Katie Healy had 15 points for the Bonnies (15-15, 5-11)..
Lafayette Takes Patriot Opener
The Leopards at home in their Kirby Sports Center in Easton, Pa., got a career high 14 points and 12 rebounds from Ashley Lutz to give Lafayette a 58-46 win over Loyola of Maryland.
Jamie O’Hare scored 16 points while Linnel Macklin scored 12.
The Greyhounds’ Colleen Marshall scored 17 points.
Lafayette moves to top-seeded American Friday night in the nation’s capital.
Conference Scoreboard
Here’s the AP’s complete conference schedule/scoreboard with match-ups set or tournaments under way.
Women's Conference Tournament Glances
The Associated Press
All Times Eastern
America East Conference
At The Events Center
Binghamton, N.Y.
First Round
Saturday, March 7
Maine vs. Binghamton, Noon
New Hampshire vs. Hartford, 2:30 p.m.
Albany vs. Vermont, 6 p.m.
Stony Brook vs. UMBC, 8:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Sunday, March8
Maine-Binghamton winner vs. New Hampshire-Hartford winner, 2 p.m.
Albany-Vermont winner vs. Stony Brook-UMBC winner, 4:30 p.m.
Championship
At Higher-Seeded Team
Friday, March 13
Semifinal winners, 4:30 p.m.
American Athletic Conference
At Mohegan Sun Arena
Uncasville, Conn.
First Round
Friday, March 6
UCF vs. Cincinnati, 4 p.m.
Memphis vs. SMU, 6 p.m.
Tulane vs. Houston, 8 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Saturday, March 7
Temple vs. East Carolina, Noon
UConn vs. UCF-Cincinnati winner, 2 p.m.
South Florida vs. Memphis-SMU winner, 6 p.m.
Tulsa vs. Tulane-Houston winner, 8 p.m.
Semifinals
Sunday, March 8
Temple-East Carolina winner vs. UConn_UCF-Cincinnati winner, 5:30 p.m.
South Florida_Memphis-SMU winner vs. Tulsa_Tulane-Houston winner, 7:30 p.m.
Championship
Monday, March 9
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
Atlantic Coast Conference
At Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro, N.C.
First Round
Wednesday, March 4
Wake Forest 69, Boston College 53
Virginia Tech 58, N.C. State 56
Georgia Tech 80, Clemson 53
Second Round
Thursday, March 5
Syracuse vs. Wake Forest, 11 a.m.
Miami vs. Virginia, 2 p.m.
Pittsburgh vs. Virginia Tech, 6 p.m.
North Carolina vs. Georgia Tech, 8:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 6
Duke vs. Syracuse-Wake Forest winner, 11 a.m.
Notre Dame vs. Miami-Virginia winner, 2 p.m.
Florida State vs. Pittsburgh-Virginia Tech winner, 6 p.m.
Louisville vs. North Carolina_Georgia Tech winner, 8:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Saturday, March 7
Duke_Syracuse_Boston College-Wake Forest winner vs. Notre Dame_Miami-Virginia winner, Noon
Florida State_Pittsburgh-Virginia Tech winner vs. Louisville vs. North Carolina_Georgia Tech winner, 2:30 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, March 8
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
Atlantic Sun Conference
At Higher-Seeded Teams
First Round
Friday, March 6
North Florida at Florida Gulf Coast, 7 p.m.
Lipscomb at Stetson, 7 p.m.
South Carolina-Upstate at Northern Kentucky, 7 p.m.
Kennesaw State at Jacksonville, 7 p.m.
Semifinals
Wednesday, March 11
Florida Gulf Coast-North Florida winner vs. Kennesaw State-Jacksonville winner, 7 p.m.
Stetson-Lipscomb winner vs. South Carolina-Upstate-Northern Kentucky winner, 7 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, March 15
Semifinal winners, 2:30 p.m.
Atlantic 10 Conference
At Richmond Coliseum
Richmond, Va.
First Round
Wednesday, March 4
UMass 55, St. Bonaventure 49
La Salle 74, Davidson 63
Second Round
Thursday, March 5
VCU vs. Saint Louis, 11:30 a.m.
Richmond vs. UMass, 2 p.m.
Saint Joseph's vs. George Mason, 4:30 p.m.
Rhode Island vs. La Salle, 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 6
George Washington vs. VCU-Saint Louis winner, 11 a.m.
Fordham vs. Richmond-UMass winner, 2 p.m.
Dayton vs. Saint Joseph's-George Mason winner, 4:30 p.m.
Duquesne vs. Rhode Island_La Salle winner, 7 p.m.
Semifinals
Saturday, March 7
George Washington_VCU-Saint Louis winner vs. Fordham_Richmond_St. Bonaventure-UMass winner, 11 a.m.
Dayton_Saint Joseph's-George Mason winner vs. Duquesne_Rhode Island vs. La Salle-Davidson winner, 1:30 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, March 8
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
Big East Conference
At Allstate Arena
Rosemont, Ill.
First Round
Saturday, March 7
Marquette vs. Providence, 3 p.m.
Xavier vs. Georgetown, 5:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Sunday, March 8
Seton Hall vs. Marquette-Providence winner, 1 p.m.
St. John's vs. Creighton, 3:30 p.m.
DePaul vs. Xavier-Georgetown winner, 7 p.m.
Villanova vs. Butler, 9:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Monday, March 9
Seton Hall_Marquette-Providence winner vs. St. John's-Creighton wnner, 6:30 p.m.
DePaul_Xavier-Georgetown winner vs. Villanova-Butler winner, 9 p.m.
Championship
Tuesday, March 10
Semifinal winners, 8 p.m.
Big South Conference
At The HTC Center
Conway, S.C.
First Round
Tuesday, March 3
Gardner-Webb 63, Longwood 55
Presbyterian 47, Charleston Southern 39
UNC Asheville 68, Coastal Carolina 54
Quarterfinals
Thursday, March 5
Liberty vs. UNC Asheville, Noon
Winthrop vs. Campbell, 2:30 p.m.
Radford vs. Gardner-Webb, 6 p.m.
High Point vs. Presbyterian, 8:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Saturday, March 7
Liberty-UNC Asheville winner vs. Winthrop-Campbell winner, 6 p.m.
Radford-Gardner-Webb winner vs. High Point-Presbyterian winner, 8:30 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, March 8
Semifinal winners, 5 p.m.
Big Ten Conference
At Sears Centre Arena
Hoffman Estates, Ill.
First Round
Wednesday, March 4
Indiana 68, Penn State 63
Purdue 58, Wisconsin 56
Second Round
Thursday, March 5
Michigan vs. Michigan State, 12:30 p.m.
Rutgers vs. Indiana, 2:55 p.m.
Nebraska vs. Illinois, 7 p.m.
Minnesota vs. Purdue, 9:25 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 6
Maryland vs. Michigan-Michigan State winner, 12:30 p.m.
Northwestern vs. Rutgers-Indiana winner, 2:55 p.m.
Iowa vs. Nebraska-Illinois winner, 7 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Minnesota-Purdue winner, 9:25 p.m.
Semifinals
Saturday, March 7
Maryland_Michigan-Michigan State winner vs. Northwestern_Rutgers-Indiana winner, 7 p.m.
Iowa_Nebraska-Illinois winner vs. Ohio State_Minnesota-Purdue winner, 9:25 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, March 8
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
Big 12 Conference
At American Airlines Center
Dallas
First Round
Friday, March 6
Kansas State vs. Kansas, 7 p.m.
West Virginia vs. Texas Tech, 9:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Saturday, March 7
Oklahoma State vs. Iowa State, Noon
Baylor vs. Kansas State-Kansas winner, 2:30 p.m.
Oklahoma vs. West Virginia-Texas Tech winner, 7 p.m.
TCU vs. Texas, 9:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Sunday, March 8
Oklahoma State-Iowa State winner vs. Baylor_Kansas State-Kansas winner, 2:30 p.m.
Oklahoma_West Virginia-Texas Tech winner vs. TCU-Texas winner, 5 p.m.
Championship
Monday, March 9
Semifinal winners, 9 p.m.
Colonial Athletic Association
At The Show Place Arena
Upper Marlboro, Md.
First Round
Thursday, March 12
Towson vs. College of Charleston, Noon
Delaware vs. Northeastern, 2:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 13
James Madison vs. Towson-College of Charleston winner, Noon
Elon vs. UNC Wilmington, 2:30 p.m.
Drexel vs. Delaware-Northeastern winner, 5 p.m.
Hofstra vs. William & Mary, 7:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Saturday, March 14
James Madison_Towson-College of Charleston winner vs. Elon-UNC Wilmington winner, 1 p.m.
Drexel_Delaware-Northeastern winner vs. Hofstra-William & Mary winner, 3:30 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, March 15
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
At Times Union Center
Albany, N.Y.
First Round
Thursday, March 5
Canisius vs. Monmouth, 9:30 a.m.
Rider vs. Saint Peter's, Noon
Niagara vs. Manhattan, 2:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 6
Quinnipiac vs. Canisius-Monmouth winner, Noon
Iona vs. Siena, 2:30 p.m.
Marist vs. Rider-Saint Peter's winner, 7 p.m.
Fairfield vs. Niagara-Manhattan winner, 9:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Sunday, March 8
Quinnipiac_Canisius-Monmouth winner vs. Iona-Siena winner, 11 a.m.
Marist_Rider-Saint Peter's winner vs. Fairfield_Niagara-Manhattan winner, 1:30 p.m.
Championship
Monday, March 9
Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.
Northeast Conference
First Round
Sunday, March 8
LIU Brooklyn at CCSU, 2 p.m.
Mount St. Mary's at Bryant, 1 p.m.
Fairleigh Dickinson at Robert Morris, 1 p.m.
St. Francis (N.Y.) at Sacred Heart, 1 p.m.
Semifinals
Wednesday, March 11
Lowest-remaining seed at highest-remaining seed, 7 p.m.
Third-remaining seed at second-remaining seed, 7 p.m.<
Championship
Sunday, March 15
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
Ohio Valley Conference
At Municipal Auditorium
Nashville, Tenn.
First Round
Wednesday, March 4
UT Martin 68, Eastern Illinois 35
SIU Edwardsville 72, Austin Peay 69
Thursday, March 5
Belmont vs. Jacksonville State, 1 p.m.
Tennessee State vs. Morehead State, 3:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Friday, March 6
UT Martin vs. Belmont-Jacksonville State winner, 1 p.m.
SIU Edwardsville vs. Tennessee State-Morehead State winner, 3:30 p.m.
Championship
Saturday, March 7
Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.
Pacific-12 Conference
At KeyArena
Seattle
First Round
Thursday, March 5
Washington State vs. Oregon, 2:30 p.m.
UCLA vs. Arizona, 5 p.m.
Southern Cal vs. Colorado, 9 p.m.
Washington vs. Utah, 11:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 6
Arizona State vs. Washington State-Oregon winner, 2:30 p.m.
Stanford vs. UCLA-Arizona winner, 5 p.m.
Oregon State vs. Southern Cal-Colorado winner, 9 p.m.
California vs. Washington-Utah winner, 11:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Saturday, March 7
Arizona State_Washington State-Oregon winner vs. Stanford_UCLA-Arizona winner, 9 p.m.
Oregon State_Southern Cal-Colorado winner vs. California_Washington-Utah winner, 11:30 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, March 8
Semifinal winners, 9 p.m.
Patriot League
At Higher-Seeded Teams
First Round
Wednesday, March 4
Lafayette 58, Loyola (Md.) 46
Colgate 58, Boston University 48
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 6
Lehigh at Holy Cross, 6 p.m.
Lafayette at American, 7 p.m.
Colgate at Army, 7 p.m.
Navy at Bucknell, 7 p.m.
Semifinals
Monday, March 9
American_Lafayette winner vs. Bucknell-Navy winner, TBA
Army_Colgate winner vs. Holy Cross-Lehigh winner, TBA
Championship
Saturday, March 14
Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.
Southeastern Conference
At Verizon Arena
Little Rock, Ark.
First Round
Wednesday, March 4
Auburn 71, Florida 49
Vanderbilt 66, Alabama 56
Second Round
Thursday, March 5
Mississippi vs. Arkansas, 1 p.m.
Texas A&M vs. Auburn, 3:30 p.m.
Missouri vs. Georgia, 6 p.m.
Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt, 8:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 6
South Carolina vs. Mississippi-Arkansas winner, 1 p.m.
LSU vs. Texas A&M-Auburn winner, 3:30 p.m.
Tennessee vs. Missouri-Georgia winner, 7 p.m.
Mississippi State vs. Kentucky-Vanderbilt winner, 9:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Saturday, March 7
South Carolina_Mississippi-Arkansas winner vs. LSU_Texas A&M-Auburn winner, 5 p.m.
Tennessee_Missouri-Georgia winner vs. Mississippi State_Kentucky_Vanderbilt winner, 7:30 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, March 8
Semifinal winners, 3:30 p.m.
Southern Conference
At Kimmel Arena
Asheville, N.C.
First Round
Thursday, March 5
Chattanooga vs. UNC Greensboro, Noon
Samford vs. Furman, 2:15 p.m.
ETSU vs. Western Carolina, 4:30 p.m.
Mercer vs. Wofford, 6:45 p.m.
At U.S. Cellular Center
Asheville, N.C.
Semifinals
Friday, March 6
Chattanooga-UNC Greensboro winner vs. Samford-Furman winner, 11 a.m.
ETSU-Western Carolina winner vs. Mercer-Wofford winner, 1:30 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, March 8
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
Summit League
At Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
Sioux Falls, S.D.
First Round
Saturday, March 7
South Dakota vs. IPFW, 1 p.m.
South Dakota State vs. Denver, 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 8
Western Illinois vs. IUPUI, 1 p.m.
Oral Roberts vs. North Dakota State, 3:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Monday, March 9
South Dakota-IPFW winner vs. Western Illinois-IUPUI, 1 p.m.
South Dakota State-Denver winner vs. Oral Roberts-North Dakota State winner, 3:30 p.m.
Championship
Tuesday, March 10
Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.
West Coast Conference
At Orleans Arena
Las Vegas
First Round
Thursday, March 5
Loyola Marymount vs. Pepperdine, 3 p.m.
Santa Clara vs. Portland, 5:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Thursday, March 5
Pacific vs. San Francisco, 9 p.m.
Saint Mary's vs. BYU, 11:30 p.m.
Friday, March 6
Gonzaga vs. Loyola Marymount-Pepperdine winner, 3 p.m.
San Diego vs. Santa Clara-Portland winner, 5:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Monday, March 9
Gonzaga_Loyola Marymount-Pepperdine winner vs. Saint Mary's-BYU winner, 3 p.m.
San Diego_Santa Clara-Portland winner vs. Pacific-San Francisco winner, 5:30 p.m.
Championship
Tuesday, March 10
Semifinal winners, 4 p.m.
- Posted using BlogPress from the Guru's iPad
The regular season came to a happy ending for Drexel Wednesday night and included another tough loss for Delaware in the Colonial Athletic Association.
The postseason lasted just one game for Penn State, whose rally fell short in the opening of the Big Ten tournament at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., to conclude the most miserable season in the eight years coach Coquese Washington has had to guide the Lady Lions.
Finally, in terms of the four Guru’s local Division I squads that saw action, La Salle made the best of being relegated to opening day play in the Atlantic 10 tournament at the Richmond Coliseum in Virginia and had several Explorers set career highs in the quick dispatch of new member Davidson.
Let’s begin on the highest of notes up in Boston where a 10-hour bus trip to get to Northeastern on Tuesday did not hamper Drexel 24 hours later as the Dragons continued on momentum with a sixth straight victory 58-42 heading into next week’s CAA tournament at the Showplace Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md.,
Sarah Curran was the tops on offensive side of things in another defensive showing by scoring 17 points for the Dragons (20-9, 14-4 CAA), who reached the 20 win total for the fifth time since becoming Division I competitors and also posted their second best CAA win total since joining the conference.
Alexis Smith scored 16 points against the 10th and last place Huskies (4-24, 1-17), whom Drexel as the second seed could see again next Friday night in the tournament quarterfinals if Northeastern upsets seventh-seeded Delaware in one of two Thursday openers a week from now.
Alexis Smith also scored in double digits for the Dragons with 16 points while all of Jamila Thompson’s eight points were collected at the foul line.
Meanwhile, Delaware, two years removed from owning the conference with the second of two perfect records, suffered another narrow setback, this time losing at CAA newcomer Elon 77-76 in overtime to fall to the seventh seed and play an opening conference tournasment day game against Northeastern.
Joy Caracciolo had her third straight 20-point outing with 21 for the Blue Hens (13-16, 8-10), who will not be WNIT eligible because to be .500 or over they would need to get to the title game for the fifth straight season and win it, which would send them joyously on to the NCAAs on the path they also succeeded in 2012 and 2013.
A loss at that point would drop them to 16-17.
Courtni Green had 17 points and a layup with 12 seconds left to force overtime when Elon (18-11, 11-7), who will be the fourth seed, couldn’t counter and then Erika Brown, who scored 16 points, missed at a chance to win as regulation expired.
The Blue Hens also got 12 points from Hannah Jardine. They missed two shots at the close of overtime to yield the game to Elon.
It’s the fourth straight game Delaware held a halftime lead it couldn’t mine into a victory. Overall, the Blue Hens have dropped five straight, the longest losing streak since 2009, the year before current WNBA superstar Elena Delle Donne decided to return to basketball and play for them.
“I’m definitely disappointed,” Delaware coach Tina Martin said. “Disappointed for the kids, disappointed for everybody.
“We played our butts off tonight. It’s frustrating when you have a chance to build a lead and go up and you’re unable to. The bottom line is we missed too many free throws and gave up too many offensive rebounds.
“We’re playing harder than we have all year long and I’m proud of them from that standpoint.”
At the top of the bracket, James Madison, the defending CAA champs who recently enjoyed a brief return for one week to the Associated Press women’s poll, finished out at home in Harrisonburg, Va., with a 107-58 rout of Charleston to tie a program recored for most points in a game by the Dukes (26-3, 17-1)..
Charleston dropped to 5-24 overall and 3-15 in the league.
Hofstra ( 18-11, 11-7), who had already clinched the third seed, the Pride’s highest since 2004), was edged on the road 76-75, at UNCW (14-15, 10-8).
With the third seed, like JMU, Drexel, and Elon, the Pride have a bye into Friday’s quarterfinals facing sixth-seeded William & Mary (15-14, 9-9).
The other opening round play-in game besides the Delaware-Northeastern matchup Thursday has eighth-seeded Towson (10-20, 6-12) facing ninth-seeded Charleston. The winner meets James Madison Friday.
The other Friday quarterfinal has Elon as the fourth seed meeting fifth-seeded UNCW.
Penn State Drops Big Ten Opener to Indiana
Tied for last with bottom-seeded Purdue a year after being the top seed in the conference, 13th-seeded Penn State chased Indiana most of the day in a Big Ten play-in round game before losing to the 12th-seeded Hoosiers 68-63 to finish the season 6-24 overall and 3-15 in the recently completed conference competition.
Penn State had some hope when Peyton Whitted scored with 1:01 left in regulation to bring the Lady :ions within a field goal but Indiana (15-15, 4-14) got a three-point play and three foul shots to advance to Thursday’s first round against fifth-seeded and 23rd-ranked Rutgers (221-8, 12-6), which just beat the Hoosiers 71-60 at home in Sunday’s regular season finale..
Sierra Moore scored 18 points for the Lady Lions in the Penn State game while Kaliyah Mitchell jad 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Candice Agee scored 14.
Amanda Cahill had a career-high 20 points for Indiana.
Purdue, the 14th seed, snapped an 10-game losing streak to beat 11th-seeded Wisconsin 58-56 closing the game with a 10-3 run over the Badgers (9-20, 5-14).
The Boilermakers, who will meet sixth-seeded Minnesota in the next round Thursday, became the first 14th seed to advance in the tournament.
Whitney Bays had 16 points for Purdue (11-19, 4-15) while Dakota Whyte had 16 for Wisconsin.
La Salle Grabs A-10 Opener
Micahya Owens, one of several Explorers to set a career mark, scored 24 points as 11th-seeded La Salle took a 74-63 win over 14th-seeded Davidson (5-25), who got 23 points from Hannah Early.
The Explorers will meet sixth-seeded Rhode Island, a vastly improved squad, in Thursday’s overall first round in Richmond, Va., at the Coliseum.
Rookie Ashanti Freeland set personal marks for points with nine and rebounds with 10. Alicia Cropper added 11 points to the Explorers’ attack.
Siobhan Beslow added to the career theme with 13 rebounds to go with her 14 points for a double double.
Meanwhile 7th-seeded Saint Joseph’s opens Thursday against 10th-seeded George Mason and the winner meets No. 2 Dayton, one of four teams with a double bye, on Friday in the quarterfinals.
Top-seeded George Washington gets either 8th-seeded VCU or 9th-seeded Saint Louis on Friday while third-seeded Duquesne gets the winner of the La Salle-Rhode Island game.
Fourth-seeded Fordham, the defending tournament champions, will meet either fifth-seeded Richmond, which on Thursday meets 13th-seeded Massachusetts, which advanced Wednesday beating 12th-seeded St. Bonaventure, 54-49.
Kim Pierre-Louis had 22 points for UMass while Katie Healy had 15 points for the Bonnies (15-15, 5-11)..
Lafayette Takes Patriot Opener
The Leopards at home in their Kirby Sports Center in Easton, Pa., got a career high 14 points and 12 rebounds from Ashley Lutz to give Lafayette a 58-46 win over Loyola of Maryland.
Jamie O’Hare scored 16 points while Linnel Macklin scored 12.
The Greyhounds’ Colleen Marshall scored 17 points.
Lafayette moves to top-seeded American Friday night in the nation’s capital.
Conference Scoreboard
Here’s the AP’s complete conference schedule/scoreboard with match-ups set or tournaments under way.
Women's Conference Tournament Glances
The Associated Press
All Times Eastern
America East Conference
At The Events Center
Binghamton, N.Y.
First Round
Saturday, March 7
Maine vs. Binghamton, Noon
New Hampshire vs. Hartford, 2:30 p.m.
Albany vs. Vermont, 6 p.m.
Stony Brook vs. UMBC, 8:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Sunday, March8
Maine-Binghamton winner vs. New Hampshire-Hartford winner, 2 p.m.
Albany-Vermont winner vs. Stony Brook-UMBC winner, 4:30 p.m.
Championship
At Higher-Seeded Team
Friday, March 13
Semifinal winners, 4:30 p.m.
American Athletic Conference
At Mohegan Sun Arena
Uncasville, Conn.
First Round
Friday, March 6
UCF vs. Cincinnati, 4 p.m.
Memphis vs. SMU, 6 p.m.
Tulane vs. Houston, 8 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Saturday, March 7
Temple vs. East Carolina, Noon
UConn vs. UCF-Cincinnati winner, 2 p.m.
South Florida vs. Memphis-SMU winner, 6 p.m.
Tulsa vs. Tulane-Houston winner, 8 p.m.
Semifinals
Sunday, March 8
Temple-East Carolina winner vs. UConn_UCF-Cincinnati winner, 5:30 p.m.
South Florida_Memphis-SMU winner vs. Tulsa_Tulane-Houston winner, 7:30 p.m.
Championship
Monday, March 9
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
Atlantic Coast Conference
At Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro, N.C.
First Round
Wednesday, March 4
Wake Forest 69, Boston College 53
Virginia Tech 58, N.C. State 56
Georgia Tech 80, Clemson 53
Second Round
Thursday, March 5
Syracuse vs. Wake Forest, 11 a.m.
Miami vs. Virginia, 2 p.m.
Pittsburgh vs. Virginia Tech, 6 p.m.
North Carolina vs. Georgia Tech, 8:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 6
Duke vs. Syracuse-Wake Forest winner, 11 a.m.
Notre Dame vs. Miami-Virginia winner, 2 p.m.
Florida State vs. Pittsburgh-Virginia Tech winner, 6 p.m.
Louisville vs. North Carolina_Georgia Tech winner, 8:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Saturday, March 7
Duke_Syracuse_Boston College-Wake Forest winner vs. Notre Dame_Miami-Virginia winner, Noon
Florida State_Pittsburgh-Virginia Tech winner vs. Louisville vs. North Carolina_Georgia Tech winner, 2:30 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, March 8
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
Atlantic Sun Conference
At Higher-Seeded Teams
First Round
Friday, March 6
North Florida at Florida Gulf Coast, 7 p.m.
Lipscomb at Stetson, 7 p.m.
South Carolina-Upstate at Northern Kentucky, 7 p.m.
Kennesaw State at Jacksonville, 7 p.m.
Semifinals
Wednesday, March 11
Florida Gulf Coast-North Florida winner vs. Kennesaw State-Jacksonville winner, 7 p.m.
Stetson-Lipscomb winner vs. South Carolina-Upstate-Northern Kentucky winner, 7 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, March 15
Semifinal winners, 2:30 p.m.
Atlantic 10 Conference
At Richmond Coliseum
Richmond, Va.
First Round
Wednesday, March 4
UMass 55, St. Bonaventure 49
La Salle 74, Davidson 63
Second Round
Thursday, March 5
VCU vs. Saint Louis, 11:30 a.m.
Richmond vs. UMass, 2 p.m.
Saint Joseph's vs. George Mason, 4:30 p.m.
Rhode Island vs. La Salle, 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 6
George Washington vs. VCU-Saint Louis winner, 11 a.m.
Fordham vs. Richmond-UMass winner, 2 p.m.
Dayton vs. Saint Joseph's-George Mason winner, 4:30 p.m.
Duquesne vs. Rhode Island_La Salle winner, 7 p.m.
Semifinals
Saturday, March 7
George Washington_VCU-Saint Louis winner vs. Fordham_Richmond_St. Bonaventure-UMass winner, 11 a.m.
Dayton_Saint Joseph's-George Mason winner vs. Duquesne_Rhode Island vs. La Salle-Davidson winner, 1:30 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, March 8
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
Big East Conference
At Allstate Arena
Rosemont, Ill.
First Round
Saturday, March 7
Marquette vs. Providence, 3 p.m.
Xavier vs. Georgetown, 5:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Sunday, March 8
Seton Hall vs. Marquette-Providence winner, 1 p.m.
St. John's vs. Creighton, 3:30 p.m.
DePaul vs. Xavier-Georgetown winner, 7 p.m.
Villanova vs. Butler, 9:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Monday, March 9
Seton Hall_Marquette-Providence winner vs. St. John's-Creighton wnner, 6:30 p.m.
DePaul_Xavier-Georgetown winner vs. Villanova-Butler winner, 9 p.m.
Championship
Tuesday, March 10
Semifinal winners, 8 p.m.
Big South Conference
At The HTC Center
Conway, S.C.
First Round
Tuesday, March 3
Gardner-Webb 63, Longwood 55
Presbyterian 47, Charleston Southern 39
UNC Asheville 68, Coastal Carolina 54
Quarterfinals
Thursday, March 5
Liberty vs. UNC Asheville, Noon
Winthrop vs. Campbell, 2:30 p.m.
Radford vs. Gardner-Webb, 6 p.m.
High Point vs. Presbyterian, 8:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Saturday, March 7
Liberty-UNC Asheville winner vs. Winthrop-Campbell winner, 6 p.m.
Radford-Gardner-Webb winner vs. High Point-Presbyterian winner, 8:30 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, March 8
Semifinal winners, 5 p.m.
Big Ten Conference
At Sears Centre Arena
Hoffman Estates, Ill.
First Round
Wednesday, March 4
Indiana 68, Penn State 63
Purdue 58, Wisconsin 56
Second Round
Thursday, March 5
Michigan vs. Michigan State, 12:30 p.m.
Rutgers vs. Indiana, 2:55 p.m.
Nebraska vs. Illinois, 7 p.m.
Minnesota vs. Purdue, 9:25 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 6
Maryland vs. Michigan-Michigan State winner, 12:30 p.m.
Northwestern vs. Rutgers-Indiana winner, 2:55 p.m.
Iowa vs. Nebraska-Illinois winner, 7 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Minnesota-Purdue winner, 9:25 p.m.
Semifinals
Saturday, March 7
Maryland_Michigan-Michigan State winner vs. Northwestern_Rutgers-Indiana winner, 7 p.m.
Iowa_Nebraska-Illinois winner vs. Ohio State_Minnesota-Purdue winner, 9:25 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, March 8
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
Big 12 Conference
At American Airlines Center
Dallas
First Round
Friday, March 6
Kansas State vs. Kansas, 7 p.m.
West Virginia vs. Texas Tech, 9:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Saturday, March 7
Oklahoma State vs. Iowa State, Noon
Baylor vs. Kansas State-Kansas winner, 2:30 p.m.
Oklahoma vs. West Virginia-Texas Tech winner, 7 p.m.
TCU vs. Texas, 9:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Sunday, March 8
Oklahoma State-Iowa State winner vs. Baylor_Kansas State-Kansas winner, 2:30 p.m.
Oklahoma_West Virginia-Texas Tech winner vs. TCU-Texas winner, 5 p.m.
Championship
Monday, March 9
Semifinal winners, 9 p.m.
Colonial Athletic Association
At The Show Place Arena
Upper Marlboro, Md.
First Round
Thursday, March 12
Towson vs. College of Charleston, Noon
Delaware vs. Northeastern, 2:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 13
James Madison vs. Towson-College of Charleston winner, Noon
Elon vs. UNC Wilmington, 2:30 p.m.
Drexel vs. Delaware-Northeastern winner, 5 p.m.
Hofstra vs. William & Mary, 7:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Saturday, March 14
James Madison_Towson-College of Charleston winner vs. Elon-UNC Wilmington winner, 1 p.m.
Drexel_Delaware-Northeastern winner vs. Hofstra-William & Mary winner, 3:30 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, March 15
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
At Times Union Center
Albany, N.Y.
First Round
Thursday, March 5
Canisius vs. Monmouth, 9:30 a.m.
Rider vs. Saint Peter's, Noon
Niagara vs. Manhattan, 2:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 6
Quinnipiac vs. Canisius-Monmouth winner, Noon
Iona vs. Siena, 2:30 p.m.
Marist vs. Rider-Saint Peter's winner, 7 p.m.
Fairfield vs. Niagara-Manhattan winner, 9:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Sunday, March 8
Quinnipiac_Canisius-Monmouth winner vs. Iona-Siena winner, 11 a.m.
Marist_Rider-Saint Peter's winner vs. Fairfield_Niagara-Manhattan winner, 1:30 p.m.
Championship
Monday, March 9
Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.
Northeast Conference
First Round
Sunday, March 8
LIU Brooklyn at CCSU, 2 p.m.
Mount St. Mary's at Bryant, 1 p.m.
Fairleigh Dickinson at Robert Morris, 1 p.m.
St. Francis (N.Y.) at Sacred Heart, 1 p.m.
Semifinals
Wednesday, March 11
Lowest-remaining seed at highest-remaining seed, 7 p.m.
Third-remaining seed at second-remaining seed, 7 p.m.<
Championship
Sunday, March 15
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
Ohio Valley Conference
At Municipal Auditorium
Nashville, Tenn.
First Round
Wednesday, March 4
UT Martin 68, Eastern Illinois 35
SIU Edwardsville 72, Austin Peay 69
Thursday, March 5
Belmont vs. Jacksonville State, 1 p.m.
Tennessee State vs. Morehead State, 3:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Friday, March 6
UT Martin vs. Belmont-Jacksonville State winner, 1 p.m.
SIU Edwardsville vs. Tennessee State-Morehead State winner, 3:30 p.m.
Championship
Saturday, March 7
Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.
Pacific-12 Conference
At KeyArena
Seattle
First Round
Thursday, March 5
Washington State vs. Oregon, 2:30 p.m.
UCLA vs. Arizona, 5 p.m.
Southern Cal vs. Colorado, 9 p.m.
Washington vs. Utah, 11:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 6
Arizona State vs. Washington State-Oregon winner, 2:30 p.m.
Stanford vs. UCLA-Arizona winner, 5 p.m.
Oregon State vs. Southern Cal-Colorado winner, 9 p.m.
California vs. Washington-Utah winner, 11:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Saturday, March 7
Arizona State_Washington State-Oregon winner vs. Stanford_UCLA-Arizona winner, 9 p.m.
Oregon State_Southern Cal-Colorado winner vs. California_Washington-Utah winner, 11:30 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, March 8
Semifinal winners, 9 p.m.
Patriot League
At Higher-Seeded Teams
First Round
Wednesday, March 4
Lafayette 58, Loyola (Md.) 46
Colgate 58, Boston University 48
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 6
Lehigh at Holy Cross, 6 p.m.
Lafayette at American, 7 p.m.
Colgate at Army, 7 p.m.
Navy at Bucknell, 7 p.m.
Semifinals
Monday, March 9
American_Lafayette winner vs. Bucknell-Navy winner, TBA
Army_Colgate winner vs. Holy Cross-Lehigh winner, TBA
Championship
Saturday, March 14
Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.
Southeastern Conference
At Verizon Arena
Little Rock, Ark.
First Round
Wednesday, March 4
Auburn 71, Florida 49
Vanderbilt 66, Alabama 56
Second Round
Thursday, March 5
Mississippi vs. Arkansas, 1 p.m.
Texas A&M vs. Auburn, 3:30 p.m.
Missouri vs. Georgia, 6 p.m.
Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt, 8:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 6
South Carolina vs. Mississippi-Arkansas winner, 1 p.m.
LSU vs. Texas A&M-Auburn winner, 3:30 p.m.
Tennessee vs. Missouri-Georgia winner, 7 p.m.
Mississippi State vs. Kentucky-Vanderbilt winner, 9:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Saturday, March 7
South Carolina_Mississippi-Arkansas winner vs. LSU_Texas A&M-Auburn winner, 5 p.m.
Tennessee_Missouri-Georgia winner vs. Mississippi State_Kentucky_Vanderbilt winner, 7:30 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, March 8
Semifinal winners, 3:30 p.m.
Southern Conference
At Kimmel Arena
Asheville, N.C.
First Round
Thursday, March 5
Chattanooga vs. UNC Greensboro, Noon
Samford vs. Furman, 2:15 p.m.
ETSU vs. Western Carolina, 4:30 p.m.
Mercer vs. Wofford, 6:45 p.m.
At U.S. Cellular Center
Asheville, N.C.
Semifinals
Friday, March 6
Chattanooga-UNC Greensboro winner vs. Samford-Furman winner, 11 a.m.
ETSU-Western Carolina winner vs. Mercer-Wofford winner, 1:30 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, March 8
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
Summit League
At Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
Sioux Falls, S.D.
First Round
Saturday, March 7
South Dakota vs. IPFW, 1 p.m.
South Dakota State vs. Denver, 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 8
Western Illinois vs. IUPUI, 1 p.m.
Oral Roberts vs. North Dakota State, 3:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Monday, March 9
South Dakota-IPFW winner vs. Western Illinois-IUPUI, 1 p.m.
South Dakota State-Denver winner vs. Oral Roberts-North Dakota State winner, 3:30 p.m.
Championship
Tuesday, March 10
Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.
West Coast Conference
At Orleans Arena
Las Vegas
First Round
Thursday, March 5
Loyola Marymount vs. Pepperdine, 3 p.m.
Santa Clara vs. Portland, 5:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Thursday, March 5
Pacific vs. San Francisco, 9 p.m.
Saint Mary's vs. BYU, 11:30 p.m.
Friday, March 6
Gonzaga vs. Loyola Marymount-Pepperdine winner, 3 p.m.
San Diego vs. Santa Clara-Portland winner, 5:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Monday, March 9
Gonzaga_Loyola Marymount-Pepperdine winner vs. Saint Mary's-BYU winner, 3 p.m.
San Diego_Santa Clara-Portland winner vs. Pacific-San Francisco winner, 5:30 p.m.
Championship
Tuesday, March 10
Semifinal winners, 4 p.m.
- Posted using BlogPress from the Guru's iPad
posted by Mel Greenberg | 9:01 AM
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