The Guru’s Postseason NCAAW Report: Columbia Rallies Out of First Four Over Washington While Cinderella William and Mary Does Likewise; Looking Ahead to Friday

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

The first of two days of NCAA first round play doesn’t happen until Friday afternoon and we already have total madness from two of the First Four games Thursday — an Ivy rally to move into the 64 cutdown joined by a team with a losing record never before in the tourney.

One day after Princeton, the first of the Ivies, almost made it to the next round, regular season champion Columbia, which fell short a year ago in the Lions’ first appearance as an at-large team, rallied to edge Big Ten representative Washington 63-60.

Then came William & Mary, which blazed its way over four days as a nine seed to win the Coastal Athletic Association, the 16-seed Tribe with a losing record brought 16-seed High Point to a low point winning 69-63.

And there’s now plenty ahead over the next four days.

But let us quickly go back to the academics of Columbia (24-6) which sent the Huskies of Washington (19-14), the Big Ten newbie part of the Pac-12 additions, scurrying back to the Northwest.

Down in Chapel Hill, N.C., where Columbia coach Megan Griffith of King of Prussia in suburban Philadelphia is one game away from playing her former boss Courtney Banghart at Princeton the Lions roared coaxed by sophomore Riley Weiss who scored 14 of her 24 points in the fourth quarter to down Washington.

A year ago, after being surprised to learn on Selection Sunday they were given an invitation to dance with Vanderbilt this time cheers for the moment replaced tears, though certainly tears of joy flowed.

A day before, Columbia’s rival Princeton, which had a string of NCAA appearances as conference champion, held a 13-point lead at the half, only to have Iowa State erase it after the break and the Tigers fell short trying to regain the lead.

This time, it was the Lions dealing the number 13 from the underside but when the second-half smoke across the third quarter gave way it was the New Yorkers from the Upper West Side who began to gain control.

“This is something that we’ve been working all year to do,” Weiss from Long Island said. “After we get this win, we’ll celebrate a little bit and then on to the next thing.

“We’re focused on the next game.”

Cecelia Collins added 12 points as Columbia moves to Saturday’s opener in the Chapel Hill quad of third-seeded and 14th-ranked North Carolina (27-7) in Carmichael Auditorium.

First, the Lions must play sixth seed and 16th-ranked West Virginia (24-7) of the Big 12 Conference.

The drama went right to the finish.

Weiss hit two foul shots to put Columbia up 61-57 with 18 seconds left.

The Huskies’ Elle Landine nailed one from deep in response to make it a one-point differential.

Weiss countered with two from the line at the 12 second mark.

Landine launched another but was off the mark and then the Lions’ Perri Page was fouled with 1.7 showing.

She missed but time was on Columbia’s side or perhaps lack of it and Washington’s desperation was off and the Lions had their first NCAA triumph.

The Huskies last appeared in 2017 advancing to the Sweet 16.

“This loss is mine, the game is on me,” said Washington coach Tina Langley, a former Maryland assistant. “When they got some easy baskets, we were kind of stung by it.”

Sayvia Sellers scored 21 for the Huskies, while Dalayah Daniels had 17 with 11 boards for a double-double.

Over in Austin, Texas, where No. 1 seed Texas will be part of the action Bella Bascimento scored 24 points, and the Tribe of the Coastal Athletic Association topped High Point 69-63.

William & Mary plays the Longhorns Saturday.

The school was the last of the original 1938-39 Division I member to never have played in either the men’s or women’s basketball tournament.

Natalie Fox had 12 points and 12 boards, while Monet Dance scored 15 points, Cassidy Geddes scored 12, and Kayl Rolph grabbed 10 boards.

The Panthers (21-12) got 19 points from Lauren Scott, while Aliyah Collins scored 18 and Jaleesa Lawrence scored 15.

An 8-2 run down the stretch assured the run to history while the Tribe owned the boards 45-31.

Looking Ahead

Things start to get more intense Friday, especially with the money bet on the women’s tourney, which started after the men’s affair.

Top seed, No. 2 overall and defending champion, as well as second ranked South Carolina (30-3), the defending NCAA champions, play No. 16 Tennessee Tech (26-5), the Ohio Valley champion at 8 p.m. on ESPNU in the Birmingham Region 2.

This is the third year the revised format instead of four separate region sites next weekend is reduced to two with eight teams in each but divided into two parts so overall No. 1 UCLA is over Spokane 1, followed by South Carolina over Birmingham Region 2, Texas over Birmingham 3, and Southern Cal over Spokane 4.

It leads to the following weekend and the Final Four in Tampa, Fla., April 4-6.

Continuing with Friday’s lineup, No. 15 Lehigh (27-6), the Patriot champ, plays second-seeded and seventh-ranked Duke (26-7) at the Blue Devils’ Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C., at 8 p.m. on ESPNU and ESPN+.

In Spokane 1, UCLA (30-2), also ranked No.  1 with one more poll to come after the Final Four, plays No. 16 Southern U.  (21-14), which came out of Wednesday’s First Four set of games, tip time at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles at at 10 p.m. on ESPN after No. 8 Richmond (27-6), the Atlantic Ten champion meets No. 9 Georgia Tech (22-10), an at-large out of the ACC at 7:30 p.m.  on ESPNEWS.

In Waco, Texas, fourth seed and 14th-ranked Baylor (27-7) hosts 13th seed Grand Canyon (32-2), the Western Athletic Conference champ, at 3:30 p.m. followed by 5th seed and 25th ranked Ole Miss (20-10) meeting 12th seed Ball State (27-7), the Mid-American champ, at 6 p.m. also on ESPNU.

In Spokane 4, fifth seed and 19th-ranked Kansas State (26-7) meets No. 12 Fairfield (28-4), the MAAC champ, in Lexington, Ky., at 2:30 p.m. on ESPNEWS after No. 4 and 13th-ranked Kentucky (22-7) plays No. 13 Liberty (26-6), Conference-USA champion, at noon on ESPN.

The South Carolina game at home at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia is paired with No. 8 Utah (22-8) meeting No. 9 Indiana (19-12) at 1:30 p.m. On ESPN2.

The other game with Duke in Durham has No.  7 Vanderbilt (22-10) meeting No. 10 Oregon (19-11) at 5 p.m.  on ESPNEWS.

In Birmingham 3, No. 5 and 20th-ranked Tennessee (22-9) meets 12th seed South Florida (23-10), the AAC champion, at 8 p.m. on ESPN in Columbus, Ohio, in Value City Arena, the home of fourth seed and 15th ranked Ohio State (225-6) which meets 13 seed Montana State (30-3), the Big Sky champion, at at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

In South Bend, Ind., the home of 3 seed Notre Dame (26-5), ranked eighth, the Irish meet 14th seed Stephen F. Austin (29-5), the Southland champ, at 2:30 p.m. on ESPNU.

The other game in that set has 6 seed Michigan (22-10) meeting 11th seed Iowa State (23-11), which ousted Princeton Wednesday in a First Four meeting. The Friday game is at 11:30 a.m. on ESPN2 to get the whole day started.

Finally, for Friday, in Fort Worth, Texas, 7 seed Louisville (21-10) meets 10 seed Nebraska (21-11) at 6 p.m. on ESPN while 2 seed and sixth-ranked TCU (31-3), the Big 12 champ, meets 15 seed Fairleigh Dickinson (29-3) the Northeast Conference champ coached by former Villanova star Stephanie Gaitley at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

This covers everything Friday.

Saturday’s extensive look will be in the next post but as for highlights, 3 seed and 10th ranked LSU (28-5) at home in Baton Rouge, La., meets 14 seed San Diego State (25-9) the Mountain West champion, at 10:15 p.m. on ESPN.

Top seed and fourth ranked Southern Cal (28-3) hosts UNC Greensboro (25-6), a 16 seed at 3 p.m. on ABC.

That’s the same network you’ll find No. 2 UConn (31-3), ranked third, at home in Storrs at Gampel Pavilion on campus hosting 15 seed Arkansas State (21-10) at 1 p.m.

  And that’s your report.