The two Kiwi women in action today, Charlotte Whittaker and Pareunora Pene both found themselves on losing teams as the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Conference Championships
Below is the schedule for the Kiwi women – see who is playing when in NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Conference Championships.
NB All games are US time therefore a day behind NZ – ie games scheduled for March 4 in the States are played Thursday March 5 in NZ
March 5 Results
Pareunora Pene (University of Tennessee Chattanooga)
Chattanooga, after gaining a share of the regular season title were unfortunately downed 63-55 by Mercer in the Southern Conference Tournament quarter-finals. Chattanooga will return to base to await possible post-season play.
Charlotte Whittaker (University of Colorado)
No 10 ranked Colorado (5-13) lost 69-54 to #10 University of Southern California in the first round of the Pac 12 play-offs. The two teams were 1-1 in regular season play but USC pulled away in the final quarter to eliminate Colorado.
March 6th
Tara Manumaleuga (University of Arizona in Tucson)
No Kiwi woman is playing for a higher ranked team than Manumaleuga with Arizona currently at #13. They will face the winner of the Cal v Arizona State tie in the quarter-finals of the highly regarded Pac 12 Conference.
Kendell Heremaia and Zara Jillings (Fordham University)
Fordham (#3) had little trouble in disposing of St Joseph’s in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Conference play-offs. They now take on #6 Duquesne in an A-10 quarter-final tie.
Akiene-Tera Reed (Virginia Commonwealth University)
Hoping to go one better than last season when they finished runners-up at the Atlantic 10 Championship VCU will face the winner of the first round game between Davidson and La Salle.
Kayla Manuirirangi (Tulane University)
#5 ranked Tulane will take on #12 Tulsa in the first round of the American Athletic Conference Tournament in Uncasville, Connecticut.
March 7th
Shalae Salmon, Khaedin Taito 7 Kaylee Smiler (Brigham Young University)
Finished 3rd in West Coast Conference regular season with 13-5 record and head straight to the WCC quarter-finals.
Will meet a conference second round winner.
Amiee Book (California State University Fullerton)
Fullerton (8-7) have a Big West Conference regular season ending fixture at home against UC Irvine.
Tsubasa Nisbett (Georgia Southern University)
Last Sun Belt Conference regular season game against Georgia State. Currently 6-11 likely needing a win to progress to conference play-offs.
McKenna Dale (Brown University)
Brown face Dartmouth in their final Ivy League fixture. Only the top four teams qualify for play-offs and Brown are well down the league standings.
March 9th
Tegan Graham (Colgate University)
Number three seeded Colgate (11-6) meet #6 Lehigh in the Patriot League quarter-finals. Colgate lost their final three regular season games including a home game against Lehigh.
Joellen How (Wagner College)
No 8 seed Wagner College Seahawks are up against it as they face top-seed Robert Norris University in a Northeast Conference Quarter-Final.
Roll of Honour
Katelin Noyer (Fresno State University) Mountain West Conference Regular Season Champions and MWC Tournament runners-up.
Pareunora Pene (University of Tennessee Chattanooga) Southern Conference Regular Season Champions.
Akiene-Tera Reed (Virginia Commonwealth University) Atlantic 10 Regular Season Runners-up.
Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team
Zara Jillings (Fordham University Rams)
Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team
Kendell Heremaia (Fordham University Rams)
Atlantic 10 All-Conference Third Team
LACEY LOWDOWN 