NCAAW: Ohio State and Virginia Tech advance to the Elite Eight

The Ohio State Buckeyes and Virginia Tech Hokies are the most recent groups to advance to the Elite Eight. Listed below are our recaps of their video games.

No. 3 seed Ohio State Buckeyes over No. 2 UConn Huskies 73-61

Ohio State defeated the UConn Huskies because of a dominant second quarter the place Ohio State held UConn to simply 9 factors.

Cotie McMahon was a menace and UConn had no reply for the star ahead, who ended the evening with 23 factors and 5 rebounds. From the guard place, Jacy Sheldon got here up huge for the Buckeyes; she had 17 factors, together with changing on all ten of her free throw makes an attempt.

Lou Lopez Sénéchal gave an important effort in defeat, scoring 25 factors, however the Huskies might by no means shut the hole from the deficit that was constructed within the first half.

Possibly it was simply the varsity’s historical past, however whereas it felt as if ultimately UConn would go on a run, Ohio State closed the door each time even a small alternative appeared. Within the third, with 3:51 left, UConn reduce the result in 5, however Ohio State responded with a 5-0 run that includes a Taylor Mikesell jumper and a Jacy Sheldon 3-pointer. Within the closing body, with beneath 4 minutes to go, UConn introduced it again to a nine-point recreation, however as soon as once more, Mikesell and Sheldon responded. Mikesell went to the ring because of a Sheldon help and Sheldon hit a pair of free throws to make it a double-digit lead as soon as once more and punch Ohio State’s ticket to the Elite Eight.

Virginia Tech Hokies had the sport in hand and almost gave it up within the fourth, however they held on and defeated the Tennessee Girl Vols 73-64. They dominated just about each statistical class and by no means trailed within the recreation main by as many as 18.

The Hokies dominated with an incredible inside-outside combo of Elizabeth Kitley and Georgia Amoore. Amoore ended Saturday with 29 factors, a career-high for her, and 6 rebounds. Kitley had 12 factors and a team-high eight rebounds within the win.

This Elite Eight berth is the primary within the faculty’s historical past, so regardless of being a No. 1 seed, Virginia Tech is in unknown territory.

Tennessee struggled to get issues going offensively by way of the primary three quarters, as the most important affect that they had was with their aggressive press, however Virginia Tech was in a position to break it, with D’asia Gregg coming off the bench and hitting a number of buckets to assist the Hokies keep management within the third quarter.

The fourth was a unique story completely.

Tennessee took the momentum that they had within the closing minutes of the third and went on a 9-2 run to begin the fourth. The 18-point deficit was reduce down to 2. This wasn’t a pretend comeback; the Girl Vols have been very a lot in it. Amoore was huge on this second for the Hokies. She made a layup and compelled a steal to calm Tennessee down and after a pair of Cayla King free throws, the lead was again as much as seven.

Tennessee by no means bought nearer and after one other Amoore bucket, the lead was again to double digits and the sport was, for all intents and functions, executed.

Virginia Tech and Ohio State will face off in opposition to one another on Monday. The win was historic for the Hokies, however all eyes will likely be on them on this Elite Eight matchup in opposition to the press-happy Buckeyes. Can they break it sufficient to make it to the Remaining 4 or will Ohio State be reducing down the nets?