The Big 12 Conference now has five teams in the second round of the NCAA Tournament after the conclusion of women’s first round play on Saturday.
After the Big 12 swept Friday’s first-round games, four teams were in action and two of them won their games, including the other Big 12 team that was hosting a sub-regional.
Here are the results of Saturday’s games, along with Sunday’s schedule for the second round.
West Virginia 82, Miami (OH) 54
No. 4 seeded West Virginia used a 13-0 run at the end of the first quarter to build an eight-point lead and pull away from No. 13 Miami (OH). A third quarter that saw WVU (27-6) outscore the RedHawks (28-7), 29-15, put the game away.
West Virginia was the second Big 12 team to host a sub-regional in this tournament, as TCU is hosting in Fort Worth. Four Mountaineers hit double figures, led by Sydney Shaw’s 19 points. Gia Cooke scored 18 points, Jordan Harrison scored 15 points, and Kierra Wheeler scored 14 points. The Mountaineers shot 51% for the game and 50% from the 3-point line, led by Cooke’s trio of 3-pointers.
The Mountaineers will play No. 5 seed Kentucky on Monday in the second round. WVU is seeking its first trip to the Sweet 16 since 1992.
Syracuse 72, Iowa State 63
Audi Crooks had another amazing game for the No. 8 seeded Cyclones, as she scored 37 points. But it wasn’t enough to overcome the No. 9 Orange, who were up by 11 points with 2:30 left before Iowa State cut the lead to five points. Syracuse (24-8) then pulled away.
Iowa State (22-10) got 14 points from Jada Williams as the Cyclones shot 39% from the floor but just 14% from the arc, where they went 3-of-22. Only two Cyclones hit 3-pointers on the game. Syracuse was 9-of-25 from the arc.
The loss denied Iowa State a shot at No. 1 UConn on Monday in the second round.
Oklahoma State 82, Princeton 68
The No. 8 seeded Cowgirls won their first NCAA Tournament game since 2021 and their first under fourth-year head coach Jacie Hoyt as they took a 23-13 lead on No. 9 seeded Princeton in the first quarter and never looked back.
Forward Achol Akot had a huge game for the Cowgirls (24-9), as she scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double. Jadyn Wooten came off the bench for a double-double of her own, as she scored 18 points and dished out 10 assists.
Oklahoma State shot 52% from the floor and 47% from the 3-point line. The Cowgirls get No. 1 seed UCLA on Monday at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.
Illinois 66, Colorado 57
Illinois slipped away from No. 10 seed Colorado with a fourth quarter in which the No. 7 seed Fighting Illini (22-11) outscored the Buffs (22-12), 19-13. Colorado had the lead down to four points in the final two minutes but was unable to make it a one possession game.
Desiree Wooten came off the bench to score 17 points for Colorado. She’s been CU’s leading scorer most of the season. Jade Masogayo added 15 points. CU had few answers for Cearah Parchment, as the Illinois freshman scored 21 points, one of three players in double figures. Illinois will face No. 2 seed Vanderbilt on Monday.
Sunday’s Big 12 Women’s NCAA Tournament Second Round Games
(all times central)
No. 7 Texas Tech at No. 2 LSU, 2 p.m., ABC
No. 6 Syracuse at No. 3 Duke, 3 p.m., ESPN
No. 6 Washington vs. No. 3 TCU, 9 p.m., ESPN
