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Women’s March Madness Monday recap: USC in Sweet 16 for first time in 30 years; Iowa wins

Lindsay Schnell, Nancy Armour, Victoria Hernandez, Steve Gardner and Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY
·34 min read
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The women’s NCAA tournament continued on Monday with eight second-round games.

The action was headlined by none other than Caitlin Clark and top-seeded Iowa playing a prime-time game in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes were challenged but fought off No. 8 West Virginia, earning a trip to Albany for the Sweet 16.

In a late game on the West Coast, JuJu Watkins and No. 1 USC handled No. 8 Kansas and are headed to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 30 years.

Catch up on all of Monday's highlights:

NCAA women's March Madness bracket

You can find the complete women's March Madness bracket here.

Women’s March Madness scores

Here is the scoreboard for Monday's second-round games in the NCAA women’s tournament.

Women’s March Madness Monday games

Here is the full schedule for Monday’s NCAA women’s tournament games.

Gonzaga marches on

Gonzaga is headed to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015.

The Bulldogs withstood a fourth-quarter rally from Utah to win 77-66. They will now play top-seeded Texas in the Portland 4 Regional on Friday night.

Gonzaga opened a lead on Utah with a hot-shooting second quarter. The Bulldogs made 9 of 12 from the floor and went into halftime up 10. But the Utes chipped away in the second half, and Alissa Pili’s layup with 4:50 left in the game pulled them within six.

Utah was forced to foul, however, and Gonzaga went 9 of 11 from the line over the last three minutes. The Utes could never get within single-digits again.

Gonzaga had four players in double-figures, led by Kayleigh Truong’s 21 points. Yvonne Ejim had 13 rebounds to go with her 17 points.

Pili led all scorers with 35 points.

USC headed back to Sweet 16 for first time in 30 years

JuJu Watkins scored 28 points and snagged 11 rebounds, leading USC deeper into the NCAA Tournament than the Trojans have been in 30 years. A 73-55 win over Kansas means USC is headed to the Sweet 16 in the Portland 3 regional.

“There was so much on the line and we knew it,” Watkins told ESPN. “We’re playing with more intensity and more grit and having fun out here … it takes so many people to make this come true. We have all the right pieces this year.”

One of those pieces: terrific perimeter shooting. The Trojans hit 13 threes against the Jayhawks and scored 25 points off 18 KU turnovers. Next up for USC as it tries to return to the glory days of the 1980s, when the Trojans won back-to-back national championships: fifth-seeded Baylor.

On the other end, S’Mya Nichols led Kansas with 22 points, but the Jayhawks had too many empty possessions, finishing the game hitting just one of their last 10 attempts. Taiyanna Jackson chipped in 10 and grabbed 18 rebounds for KU.

Gonzaga holds lead going into fourth quarter

Gonzaga has cooled off a bit, shooting less than 50% in the third quarter. That’s a drop from the 75% they shot in the second quarter.

It’s not enough for Utah to make a game of it, however.

The Bulldogs take a 62-48 lead into the fourth quarter after outscoring the Utes in both the second and third quarters. The problem for Utah isn’t just that Gonzaga is shooting so well; it’s that so many of its players are doing it. Four players are in double-figures, led by Kayleigh Truong’s 17 points, and Brynna Maxwell has seven.

Alissa Pili is doing all she can for Utah, with 24 points and seven rebounds. But while she’s 8 of 14 from the floor, the rest of her teammates are 10 of 34.

Kansas making things tough for USC

The Trojans are 10 minutes from the Sweet 16 — but it won’t be an easy last quarter.

USC has a 53-46 lead going into the fourth, but it got dicey after halftime when the Trojans' offense disappeared. A 9-0 KU run late in the third brought the Jayhawks within one, 47-46, but USC scored on its next two possessions, then ended the quarter by forcing a turnover and scoring on a free throw to give itself some breathing room.

JuJu Watkins has 19 points, and McKenzie Forbes has 18 for USC, which has hit 11 threes so far.

Gonzaga leads Utah after hot second quarter 

Gonzaga can hardly miss.

The Bulldogs made 9 of 12 shots from the floor in the second quarter, including 5 for 5 from 3-point range, and used their hot hands to open a 41-33 lead on Utah going into halftime. Equally noteworthy? Gonzaga got points from six different players.

While Gonzaga was making everything, Utah was … not. The Utes had just three field goals in the second quarter, and Dasia Young’s layup with six seconds left was their first bucket in almost six minutes. Hard to win when you don’t score.

Will coach Lindsay Gottlieb's kids offer postgame thoughts if USC holds on to win?

If USC hangs on to beat Kansas — the Trojans are currently up 43-35 with 5:50 to play in the third — will USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb's kids, 6-year-old Jordan and 16-month-old Reese, come to the press conference again to share their thoughts?

Alissa Pili has hot start, Utah takes early lead over Gonzaga

Alissa Pili came to play and already has 12 points in the first quarter. No. 5 Utah is up 23-17 over No. 4 Gonzaga after one period of play. The Utes have scored five three-point shots and seem in control as they seek a Sweet 16 berth.

Senior guard Kayleigh Truong has seven points for Gonzaga.

JuJu Watkins has USC up at the half vs. Kansas

So much for sitting JuJu Watkins when the freshman picked up two quick fouls. Watkins played 17 minutes the first half, scoring 11 points and grabbing five rebounds, leading USC to a 33-24 halftime edge over Kansas.

But even she couldn’t help the Trojans the last couple minutes of the first half, when the Jayhawks’ zone defense stymied USC’s offense, holding them scoreless the last 2:11 of the game. The biggest issue for KU was turnovers the first half, as 12 throwaways led to 16 USC points. Kansas also needs to keep USC off the offensive glass; the Trojans already have seven second chance points.

S’Mya Nichols leads Kansas with 11, while McKenzie Forbes has 12 for USC.

UCLA outlasts Creighton to return to Sweet 16

In a heated battle in the second round, No. 2 UCLA came out on top and beat No. 7 Creighton 67-63.

The Bruins were down by as many as 10 and were behind from midway in the first quarter until almost the end of the third. Sophomore guard Kiki Rice went off for the Bruins in the second half. She finished with 24 points, 17 after the halftime break. UCLA outrebounded the Bluejays 40-23.

Three Creighton players finished in double-digits, led by 20 from senior guard Lauren Jensen. She attempted a long jump shot with nine seconds left to bring the Bluejays within two, but it bounced off the rim.

UCLA will take on No. 3 LSU in the Sweet 16, where they were ousted last year.

USC runs out to early lead over Kansas

Freshman phenom JuJu Watkins already has seven points for USC, but she’s also got a scratch on her face and two fouls.

USC has a 17-9 lead over Kansas at the end of the first quarter but goodness, it’s physical already. The Trojans are trying to book a ticket to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1994, but will Watkins have to sit the rest of the first half? USC already has a staggering 14 points on eight Kansas turnovers. If the Jayhawks want to close the gap, they have to take better care of the ball. The good news for Kansas: They’re winning the battle of the boards, handily.

Caitlin Clark, Iowa headed to Sweet 16

The only packing Caitlin Clark and Iowa are doing is for the Sweet 16.

Clark and the Hawkeyes outlasted West Virginia 64-54, using an 8-0 run late in the fourth quarter to finally get separation from the Mountaineers. They then made their free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Clark finished with 32 points, which gives her 1,113 for the year. That breaks, by four, Kelsey Plum’s single-season Division I scoring record. She also had eight rebounds and three assists, but six turnovers.

Clark and Iowa now move on to face Colorado in the Sweet 16 on Saturday in the Albany 2 Regional.

“I know I’ve given everything to this program, same with these two,” Clark said after the game, gesturing to fellow seniors Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall. “There’s a lot to be proud of. I’m just thankful. I’m grateful.”

When the bracket was released, West Virginia coach Mark Kellogg said the Mountaineers were going to “send Caitlin Clark packing.” He tried to walk that back before the game, but his team almost delivered. After trailing by 12 midway through the third quarter, West Virginia tied the game three times in the fourth.

But foul trouble, and a massive block by the 5-foot-9 Marshall, made the difference.

Marshall, who also had a pair of blocks in the Big Ten tournament title game, swatted away J.J. Quinerly’s 3-point attempt. Sydney Affolter got the ball and converted the three-point play after getting fouled on a driving layup.

Hannah Stuelke made three of four free throws and Clark made a pair, effectively sealing the win.

“This team was never flustered. I think that just speaks to our experience,” Clark said after the game.

Affolter finished with 13 points and Stuelke had a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards.

Another record for Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark, who earlier this season became college basketball's all-time leading scorer, has now broken Kelsey Plum's single-season Division I record. Clark came into the night needing 28 points, which she got with a free throw with 21.3 seconds left. She now has 1,111 points this season.

That’s a big loss for West Virginia

No, not the game. Not yet, anyway.

J.J. Quinerly, West Virginia’s leading scorer at just under 20 points, fouled out with 1:07 left in a game the Mountaineers are trailing 55-52. Jayla Hemingway, Kylee Blacksten and Kyah Watson are also playing with four fouls.

UCLA rallies to tie Creighton in third quarter

No. 2 UCLA is alive. The Bruins rallied to outscore No. 7 Creighton 22-14 in the third quarter. They head into the fourth quarter tied at 56.

UCLA took its first lead since the first quarter at 3:04 in the third with a layup from Kiki Rice. Rice has 20 points — 13 in the period — and four rebounds so far. Charisma Osborne, who averages 14.4 points per game, went to the bench midway through the quarter with her third foul, but returned later.

Creighton’s Lauren Jensen made a three-point bucket to tie the game before the buzzer. She has 20 points.

John Legend and his daughter were shown on the ESPN2 broadcast.

Iowa pulling away from West Virginia after three

Caitlin Clark is on a mission.

College basketball’s all-time leading scorer was almost perfect in the third quarter, going 4 for 5 from the floor and 3 of 4 at the free-throw line. Her 13 points in the quarter keyed two big Iowa runs, and the Hawkeyes finally seem to be getting some separation from West Virginia, taking a 48-38 lead into the final 10 minutes.

After losing to LSU in last year’s title game, Clark has said many times that Iowa has big goals this season, and that doesn’t include losing at home in her final NCAA Tournament. But the Hawkeyes are going to need more than her, and Kate Martin’s resurgence late in the quarter was a good sign.

Martin, who’d had just two points, scored five in the last 90 seconds.

Creighton starting to pull away from UCLA

No. 7 Creighton had as much as a 10-point lead in the second quarter and is up 42-34 over No. 2 UCLA heading into the halftime break.

The Bluejays have made five three-point shots and have two players in double-digits already — Lauren Jensen has 17 and Emma Ronsiek has 12. Lauren Betts has 14 points for the Bruins, who have two starters with two fouls.

Iowa pulling away 

This might be getting away from West Virginia.

Caitlin Clark and top-seeded Iowa are on a 10-0 run and have opened up a 38-26 lead on West Virginia midway through the third quarter. Making matters worse for the Mountaineers, Kylee Blacksten has picked up her fourth foul and is, temporarily at least, on the bench.

Is Gabriela Jaquez related to Jaime Jaquez Jr.?

Yes! UCLA’s sophomore forward Gabriela Jaquez is the younger sister of Miami Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. Both siblings reached the Sweet 16 with the Bruins last year.

The older brother was the Pac-12 player of the year in his senior season when he averaged 17.8 points per game. He was then drafted No. 18 overall by the Heat.

This year, Gabriela is averaging 10 points and 5.5 rebounds a game. Her team is currently taking on Creighton for another Sweet 16 berth.

Creighton and UCLA battling early

After one quarter of play, the No. 7 Creighton Bluejays have a razor-thin 20-19 lead over the No. 2 UCLA Bruins.

Creighton has led most of the second-round game so far, but UCLA has had a few brief leads.

Senior guard Lauren Jensen is leading the Bluejays with 11 points. Sophomore center Lauren Betts has 12 points for the Bruins.

Former Bruin and current WNBA star Jordin Canada is in the building.

Iowa clinging to lead at halftime

Caitlin Clark and No. 1-seeded Iowa had about as bad a quarter of basketball as you can have.

Fortunately for them, West Virginia wasn’t much better and the Hawkeyes are clinging to a 26-24 lead at the half.

Iowa had a season-low six points in the second quarter and went the last 4:49 without scoring. After scoring nine, all on 3s, in the first quarter, Clark had just two. College basketball’s all-time leading scorer made one of five shots in the quarter, and was 0-for-3 from long range.

Iowa also has nine turnovers, which West Virginia has turned into 10 points.

“We’ve got to make better passing decisions right now. Nine turnovers and that’s way too many for us,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder, clearly frustrated, told ESPN at halftime.

The Mountaineers couldn’t take advantage of Iowa’s lull because they were in one of their own, going oh-fer the last 2:11 of the second quarter. And something to keep an eye on: J.J. Quinerly, who leads West Virginia with nearly 20 points a game, appeared to tweak her ankle late in the second quarter. She went to the bench and it looked as if she was using an electronic stim machine, but she was back in a few minutes later.

Quinerly and Kyah Watson each have 7 for West Virginia.

Indiana comes back to oust Oklahoma

No. 4 Indiana came back after No. 5 Oklahoma led most of the second half to win 75-68 in a second-round matchup.

The Hoosiers pulled away in the fourth quarter and finish the season undefeated at Assembly Hall.

Mackenzie Holmes gave the Hoosiers the lead with a layup at 1:17 and Indiana finished the game outscoring Oklahoma 9-4.

The final minute capped off the back-and-forth game. There were five timeouts between the two teams and five fouls called.

Holmes had 29 points, six rebounds and four blocks. Skylar Vann led the Sooners with 20 points and eight rebounds.

Indiana will attempt to dethrone No. 1 South Carolina in the Sweet 16.

Iowa takes lead after first quarter on Clark's 3-pointers

Caitlin Clark is already cooking.

College basketball’s all-time leading scorer has nine points in the first quarter, all from 3-point range, and top-seeded Iowa seems to have withstood an early challenge from West Virginia. The Hawkeyes are up by five, 20-15, after the first quarter.

The Hawkeyes looked out of sync early, perhaps feeling the impact of the final game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena for starters Clark, Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall. But Clark found her groove and Hannah Stuelke is making her presence known around the basket, grabbing four boards and blocking two shots.

Iowa needs to watch the turnovers, though. The Hawkeyes already have five, and West Virginia has turned them into seven points.

49ers' George Kittle wears wife’s Iowa jersey to game

George Kittle is in the house in Iowa City to watch Caitlin Clark and the No. 1 Iowa Hawkeyes take on the No. 8 West Virginia Mountaineers in the second round. The San Francisco 49ers tight end is wearing his wife, Claire Till’s jersey. She played for the Hawkeyes from 2012 to 2016.

Kittle went to Super Bowl 58 and lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. He will be a part of the upcoming Netflix series, “Receiver.”

Molly Davis out again

Molly Davis will not make her return tonight.

Iowa’s guard has been out since injuring her knee in the regular-season finale, missing the Big Ten tournament and Saturday’s first-round win against Holy Cross. She’s been doing aggressive physical therapy, and Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said last week she hoped the Hawkeyes might get her back for the senior’s last game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

“I would say no to Saturday,” Bluder said Friday. “I’m hoping for Monday.”

But Davis was in street clothes for the game against West Virginia.

Davis has appeared in 30 games for the Hawkeyes this season, starting 27 of them, and averages 6.1 points per game.

UConn headed to 30th straight Sweet 16

No. 6 Syracuse made them work for it, but No. 3 Connecticut came out on top 72-64 in their second-round matchup to advance to their 30th straight Sweet 16 appearance.

Freshman KK Arnold electrified Gampel Pavilion when she nailed a three-point shot with an assist from Paige Beuckers to make it a two-play game with 29 seconds left.

Syracuse went on an 8-0 run to bring the game within two, but Beuckers nailed a jumpshot to bring the Huskies lead back to four.

Beuckers finished with 32 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and four steals.

For the Orange, Dyaisha Fair ends her college career with a 20-point performance with six assists, four rebounds and three steals. She became the third-leading scorer in women's college basketball history during the game was visibly emotional when the clock hit zero. She held her jersey up to her face as she cried.

Connecticut will play No. 7 Duke in the Sweet 16.

Oklahoma-Indiana still close heading into fourth quarter

No. 5 Oklahoma is up 48-46 over No. 4 Indiana through three quarters in their second-round matchup.

Skylar Vann has 16 points for the Sooners and Mackenzie Holmes has 17 for the Hoosiers in a game that’s looking like it’s going down to the wire.

Connecticut clinging to lead with Paige Beuckers, Dyaisha Fair battling

The No. 3 Huskies are up 53-44 over the No. 6 Orange entering the fourth quarter of their second-round matchup.

Paige Beuckers has 25 points and seven rebounds for the Huskies. Dyaisha Fair is coming alive in the second half and has 11 points, including a three-point play where she was fouled on a layup and made the free throw. The extra point made her the fourth-leading scorer in women’s college history and cut Connecticut’s lead to four.

Dyaisha Fair becomes fourth-leading scorer in women’s college basketball history

After a gritty performance overcoming injury in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Dyaisha Fair made history in second-round play.

In the third quarter of Syracuse’s game against Connecticut, she passed Jackie Stiles to become the fourth-leading scorer in women’s college history. Fair scored her 3,394th career point with a free throw.

She has 11 points for the Orange so far.

Oklahoma enters half with slight lead over Indiana

The No. 5 Sooners gave fans a hint of momentum in the first quarter that they established in the second. Oklahoma goes into the half up 30-29 over No. 4 Indiana in hopes of reaching the Sweet 16.

Payton Verhulst made a three-pointer as the first play of the second quarter to break a tie and the Sooners have been up nearly the entire period.

Sara Scalia gave the Hoosiers a quick one-point lead with a three-point bucket with 1:12 left before the half. It was her first points of the game. But Skylar Vann answered with a short shot of her own to put the Sooners back up.

Vann has 10 points for the Sooners. Sydney Parrish has 12 points and five rebounds for the Hoosiers.

Indiana and Oklahoma tied after first quarter

It’s neck-and-neck as No. 4 Indiana and No. 5 Oklahoma are tied at 19 after the first quarter of their second-round matchup.

Oklahoma squeaked in a four-point lead with layups from Aubrey Joens and Kiersten Johnson, but that’s as far ahead as either team has gotten. Senior forward Skylar Vann has eight points for the Sooners and graduate student forward Mackenzie Holmes has the same amount for the Hoosiers.

Connecticut pulling away from Syracuse at the half

Paige Beuckers is doing what Paige Bueckers does.

No. 3 Connecticut went on a 12-2 run in the second quarter to go into halftime up 39-28 over No. 6 Syracuse. The star guard has 20 points and five rebounds for the Huskies.

Georgia Woolley brought the game within six for the Orange late in the period, but Beuckers squashed the comeback with three scores of her own.

There wasn’t a free throw until 2:30 on the clock when Woolley was fouled. Dyaisha Fair has yet to score.

Connecticut clinging to lead over Syracuse after first quarter

No. 3 seed Connecticut is leading No. 6 seed Syracuse 18-16 after the first quarter in a second-round matchup.

It’s been a tightly contested game with Syracuse up by four at one point. Paige Bueckers has eight points for the Huskies. Georgia Woolley and Sophie Burrows each have six points for the Orange. Woolley has two fouls.

NC State, Aziaha James knock out Tennessee, 79-72

The closest Tennessee got was two points.

With a Sweet 16 trip on the line, the Lady Volunteers nearly erased a 20-point deficit, but NC State’s clutch shot making and tight defense was enough to pull the Wolfpack through, 79-72.

NC State guard Aziaha James led all Wolfpack scorers with 22 points and added seven assists. Fellow guard Saniya Rivers added 20 points and Zoe Brooks chipped in 16 off the bench.

For Tennessee, star forward Rickea Jackson helped spark the comeback attempt, dropping 33 points on 13-of-22 shooting and adding 10 rebounds. She accounted for nearly half of Tennessee’s points on the day.

Though Tennessee drastically slowed NC State’s transition opportunities on offense in the second half, the Wolfpack created a massive disadvantage for the Lady Vols, outscoring Tennessee 29-13 on fast-break points. NC State also dominated down low, outscoring Tennessee 40-28 in the paint.

The Wolfpack will play No. 2 Stanford in the Sweet 16.

Saniya Rivers drives on Jillian Hollingshead.
Saniya Rivers drives on Jillian Hollingshead.

Tennessee has outscored NC State 32-16 since halftime

Tennessee is riding a second-half surge to take its second-round game against NC State down to the wire. The Lady Volunteers have doubled up NC State in the second half, outscoring the Wolfpack 32-16 since intermission.

Star forward Rickea Jackson has been the catalyst, pouring in 31 points on 12-of-20 shooting. NC State is up 65-63, with 3:44 left to play and a Sweet 16 berth on the line.

Tennessee cuts into NC State's lead heading into final quarter

Tennessee in the third quarter chipped away at the NC State lead, outscoring the Wolfpack by 10 to make it an eight-point game headed into the fourth.

The Wolfpack are up 58-50, as Tennessee made an excellent adjustment to drop back more bodies in transition to slow NC State's pace. In the first half, the Wolfpack had scored 20 fast-break points; in the third quarter, they didn’t score a single point in transition.

Tennessee senior guard Jasmine Powell was instrumental on the offensive end, knocking down a 3 pointer and attacking and drawing three fouls before converting all six free throws.

NC State’s overall shooting dipped to below 50% in the third quarter, with the Wolfpack now 24-of-50 (48%) from the floor.

NC State has big lead over Tennessee at halftime

NC State began the second quarter much in the way it ended the first: forcing turnovers, pushing the ball up the floor and getting baskets in transition.

The Lady Volunteers tried a defensive zone, and while they slightly slowed NC State’s momentum midway through the second quarter, the issue for Tennessee was that it didn’t make enough shots to establish its conventional defense.

NC State takes a commanding 49-31 lead into halftime, after Tennessee scored just eight points in the second quarter. In fact, going back to late in the first quarter, NC State is on a 32-8 run.

Lady Volunteers star forward Rickea Jackson, who scored 14 points in the first quarter, had just two in the second.

NC State has an edge in steals (3-1), fast break points (20-5), points in the paint (24-8), turnovers committed (2-6) and rebounds (19-13).

Both of NC State’s stellar guards, Saniya Rivers and Aziaha James, scored 12 points.

NC State leads Tennessee after first quarter of fast-paced game

The pace and offensive tempo in the second-round matchup between No. 6 Tennessee and No. 3 NC State has been enthralling.

Both teams have been looking to get up on fast breaks, but it’s the Wolfpack who closed the first quarter on a 7-0 run to claim an early lead, 24-23.

Tennessee star senior forward Rickea Jackson needed only four-and-a-half minutes to reach double figures, and made four of her first six shots, including her first two 3-pointers, to score 14 points in the first frame.

NC State is getting more balanced offensive production with three players — center River Baldwin and guards Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers — each with at least six points.

The Wolfpack have already scored 10 fast break points, compared to Tennessee’s five, and NC State also holds a 12-4 advantage in points in the paint.

Notre Dame reaches Sweet 16 by toppling Ole Miss

For the third time in Niele Ivey’s four seasons as Notre Dame’s head coach, her program is headed to the Sweet 16.

Thanks to a stifling zone defense, No. 2 Notre Dame toppled No. 7 Ole Miss 71-56 in its second-round game and will face No. 3 Oregon State Friday.

In the fourth quarter, Ole Miss turned to full-court press and ramped up its defensive intensity to try to spark a run, but the Fighting Irish relied on their own defensive intensity and forced 22 turnovers to close the game.

Notre Dame, as it has most of the season, got massive contributions from its big three: freshman guard Hannah Hidalgo (19 points, four assists), junior forward Maddy Westbeld (20 points, four rebounds) and junior guard Sonia Citron (17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists).

Notre Dame shot 26-of-52 (50%) from the field and limited Ole Miss to just 22-of-57 (38.6%).

Ole Miss more competitive, but Notre Dame still leads big

Ole Miss stopped the bleeding, more or less, but it’s appearing as if that won’t be close to enough.

Notre Dame outscored the Rebels by only two points in the third quarter, but the Fighting Irish still retain a sizable lead.

Notre Dame is up 61-42 and is one quarter away from booking its third consecutive trip to the Sweet 16.

The Fighting Irish have been deliberate and measured in their offensive approach, swinging the ball to find spaces in Ole Miss’ defense, attacking and then finishing — or making the extra pass. Notre Dame has recorded 15 assists on its 24 made field goals, compared with only seven on Ole Miss’ 18.

Notre Dame also has been dominating in the paint, outscoring Ole Miss 30-20 there.

Notre Dame up big at half over Ole Miss

In the first half, Notre Dame’s 2-3 zone caused all sorts of problems for Ole Miss.

The Rebels struggled to find gaps in the defensive pressure and often had their possessions run deep into the shot clock, forcing up rushed and contested shots, or – even worse – committing turnovers.

The Fighting Irish forced Ole Miss into 13 turnovers and limited the Rebels to just 11 of 29 (37.9%) from the floor. The Notre Dame zone also prevented Ole Miss from making easy entry passes into the post.

Notre Dame junior forward Maddy Westbeld led all scorers with 14 points, including the final bucket before halftime, off of an offensive rebound. Star freshman guard Hannah Hidalgo added nine points, three rebounds and three assists.

The Irish are up 43-26 at the half. —Lorenzo Reyes

Notre Dame up early on Mississippi

The conclusion of the women's second round is underway in South Bend, Ind.

Playing on their home court, the second-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a 21-9 lead over No. 7 Ole Miss at the end of the first quarter.

The Irish connected on 50% of their shots from the field in the quarter, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range. Freshman Hannah Hidalgo leads the way for Notre Dame with six points and a pair of steals.

The Rebels shot just 23.5% from the field for the quarter – and their 11-point deficit is the largest they've faced after one quarter all season. — Steve Gardner

Notre Dame and Ole Miss tip off

The first of the last games in Round 2 of the women's March Madness bracket has gotten underway, as No. 2 seed Notre Dame takes on No. 7 seed Ole Miss.

How to watch women's NCAA Tournament games

The ESPN family of networks will carry all the women's tournament games. So you will find them on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews and ABC. The first game tips at 2 p.m. ET and the last game tips at 10:30 p.m. Here's how to watch women's March Madness like a pro.

How many points has Caitlin Clark scored? 

As Iowa’s Caitlin Clark continues to rewrite the record books, USA TODAY Sports is tracking all her stats during the NCAA Tournament. Here’s everything you need to know about the superstar guard. Here is an in-depth, illustrated look at the Iowa star and her race to the all-time NCAA Division I scoring record.

Iowa, rich with basketball history, loves Caitlin Clark so much they carved her out of butter 

To fully understand the impact that Caitlin Clark has had on Iowa, a state that’s long adored and supported women’s basketball, consider this: For all of the superstars who have come out of this Midwestern hub, for all of the legends who dominated that still-celebrated relic of six-on-six, for all the locals worshipped by other locals, only one has had her likeness carved out of butter. And that it wasn’t an exact resemblance is not the point.

“Obviously I never expected to be sculpted out of butter,” Clark said, laughing as she recalled the August 2023 statue that went viral. “But if you’re from the state of Iowa, you know that’s a really big deal. You go to the state fair just to see the butter sculptures.”

Read Lindsay Schnell’s full feature on Clark and Iowa.

Women’s March Madness bracket predictions 

Here are all of today's NCAA women’s tournament second-round game picks from USA TODAY Sports experts Nancy Armour, Scooby Axson, Ellen Horrow and Lindsay Schnell.

Women’s March Madness players to watch today 

  • Notre Dame G Hannah Hidalgo (23.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 4.6 spg), the most annoying on-ball defender in the country who can get to the rim whenever she wants

  • Indiana F Mackenzie Holmes (20.0 ppg, 66.7% FG), a force in the paint

  • UCLA F Lauren Betts (14.7 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 65.3% FG), can score at-will in the paint when her teammates get her the ball

  • Iowa G Caitlin Clark (31.9 ppg, 8.9 apg), the best scorer and most complete offensive player in the history of the women's college game

  • USC G Mckenzie Forbes (13.5 ppg, 3.3 apg), who pretty much only hits big shots in big moments

  • UConn F Ice Brady (4.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg), who stepped up big in the Big East tournament, more than doubling her scoring output

  • N.C. State guard Saniya Rivers (12.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.9 apg), whose athleticism is typically good for at least one jaw-dropping highlight per game

  • Gonzaga twin Gs Kayleigh (11.9 ppg, 4.5 apg) and Kaylynne Truong (11.6 ppg, 5.9 apg), whose stats, like them, are nearly identical.

Women’s March Madness schedule

Here is the women's schedule:

  • First round: March 22-23

  • Second round: March 24-25

  • Sweet 16: March 29-30

  • Elite Eight: March 31-April 1

  • Final Four: Friday, April 5 at 7:30 and 9 p.m. ET on ESPN

  • NCAA championship game: Sunday, April 7 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC

What to know about Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame's freshman star and ACC rookie of the year 

Freshman guard Hannah Hidalgo led the Fighting Irish to a 55-51 win over the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the ACC championship game to secure Notre Dame an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. Hidalgo, who scored 22 points, six rebounds, six assist and two steals in the win, was named the 2024 ACC Tournament MVP and named to the All-Tournament First Team.

The ACC tournament accolades are just the tip of the iceberg for Hidalgo, whose stellar freshman campaign has also earned her national recognition. Here's everything to know about the freshman standout.

Meet Syracuse's Dyaisha Fair, the best scorer in women's college basketball not named Caitlin Clark

Syracuse guard Dyaisha Fair is the fifth all-time leading scorer in women's college basketball history after surpassing former Baylor star Brittney Griner (3,283 points) this season. Fair, 22, only trails Missouri State alum Jackie Stiles (3,393), Ohio State alum Kelsey Mitchell (3,402), Washington alum Kelsey Plum (3,527) and Clark (3,685 and counting) on the NCAA women's basketball all-time scoring list.

"She's different. She's special. She's one of the best players to ever play the game," coach Felisha Legette-Jack told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, part of the USA Today Network, in January when Fair eclipsed 3,000 career points.

Here's everything to know about the Syracuse star, who has quietly climbed the all-time scoring list in Clark's shadow. — Cydney Henderson 

Utah’s Alissa Pili on her Polynesian heritage 

To fully understand and appreciate the pride Utah women’s basketball standout Alissa Pili feels for her Polynesian heritage, one needs only to look at her right leg.

Tattooed there, in prominent display from ankle to hip, is a spiral of Polynesian tribal symbols. In ancient times, ink like that — especially full sleeves — was typically associated with warriors.

That’s also a fitting description for Pili, the reigning Pac-12 player of the year, a tough, relentless forward who averages 21.0 points and 6.4 rebounds for the No. 22 Utes. But because the senior, who is Samoan and Alaska Native (Inupiaq), also values femininity, she asked her tattoo artist to add flowers, too.

“Women aren’t known for being super feminine in our Polynesian culture, but I think it’s important to not just be stuck in a box that other people (put you in),” Pili told USA TODAY Sports. “For me, I grew up playing football with my brothers and cousins, I was a tomboy. But I also like to be feminine. And if you want to wear the (fake) lashes or put on makeup or do your nails, it’s OK to show that side of you, too.”

Read Lindsay Schnell’s full feature here.

Women's basketball needs faces of future to be Black. Enter JuJu Watkins and Hannah Hidalgo 

It’s understandable why JuJu Watkins, the front-runner for national freshman of the year, sparks reaction every time she’s on the floor. The 6-foot-2 rookie from the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, has a silky smooth jumper, a veteran’s poise and a combination of skill, power and body control rarely seen.

With Caitlin Clark headed to the 2024 WNBA draft, where she’s projected No. 1 overall, Watkins, the nation’s second leading scorer this season behind Clark, is positioned to become the face of women’s basketball. She'll be joined by Notre Dame point guard Hannah Hidalgo, the other favorite for freshman of the year.

Not lost on any of the powerbrokers in the game: Both of these players are Black. And in a game built by Black women, it matters that the faces of the future look like the faces of the past.

Read Lindsay Schnell’s full feature here.

Caitlin Clark: Complete guide to basketball career of Iowa's prolific scorer and superstar

Caitlin Clark is the reigning national player of the year, a sharpshooting supernova with a penchant for launching 3-pointers from the logo, flicking no-look passes through defenders' arms and talking trash to any and all who stand in her way.

The postseason for Clark and Iowa starts next week, with the Hawkeyes playing in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten conference tournament. No matter what happens in the next few days, Iowa is expected to earn a top four seed in the NCAA tournament, and host the first two rounds. A year after leading Iowa to the national championship game, Clark is trying to get back to her second consecutive Final Four, an accomplishment few players have achieved. USA TODAY Sports has been tracking her game closely. In case you need to brush up on your Clark trivia, we’ve got you covered with our complete guide to all things Clark.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Women’s March Madness Monday scores, updates: NCAA bracket, highlights