Men’s NCAA Division I National Championship, First Round
Miami University Hurricanes scraped past USC Trojans 68-66. Sam Waardenburg added 4 points and 3 rebounds to a career high 4 blocks. It needed two free-throws, with three seconds left on the clock, for the Hurricanes to seal the win and book themselves a second round match-up against second seed Auburn.
Sam Mennenga made 3 from 5 from beyond the arc in totalling 15 points but Davidson Wildcats came up just short against Michigan State downed 74-73. Mennenga also tallied 5 rebounds, an assist and a block for the Atlantic-10 regular season champions.
Harrison Young and TCU are through to the second round after the Horned Frogs comfortably beat Seton Hall 69-42.
Women’s NCAA Division I National Championship, First Round
Charlotte Whittaker and Colorado University bowed out in the first round after an 84-74 defeat at the hands of Creighton.
Women’s National Invitational Tournament, First Round
The curtain has come down on the fabulous collegiate career of Kendell Heremaia after Fordham University were defeated 71-64 by Bucknell in the first round of the WNIT. Heremaia had 10 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists in the defeat. The former Waikato and St Peter’s School, Cambridge standout finishes her time at Fordham with 1,291 points and 796 rebounds in 145 appearances – 117 of those as a starter.
Emme Shearer and Portland Pilots got the better of Jess Moors and Colorado State in the battle between two former Harbour and Westlake teammates. Shearer had a game high 3 steals along with 2 points, 4 rebounds and a block.
UCLA were too good for UC Irvine winning 61-48. Olivia Williams tallied 4 points, 2 rebounds an assist and a steal for Irvine.
Houston Baptist 51 (Lauryn Mapusua 2 rebounds) Toledo 61
Women’s Basketball Invitational
St Mary’s Gaels defeated Austin Peay 77-69 in the quarter-final of the Women’s Basketball Invitational. Tayla Dalton had 7 points and a brace each of rebounds and assists while Amy West contributed 4 points and a pair of rebounds.
In the semi-finals tomorrow St Mary’s will take on Bowling Green University.
NJCAA (Junior College) National Championships Second Round
Izzy Cook, Rashaan Smith and Western Nebraska College eased through to the quarter-finals of the Championships with a 70-59 victory over Wabash Valley. Western Nebraska sealed the win with a dominant 20-11 fourth quarter.
It wasn’t such good news for Southern Idaho as they were defeated 75-49 by Trinity Valley.
Kyra Paniora had deuces in points, rebounds and assists with Ashlee Strawbridge severely hampered by foul trouble finishing with a rebound and an assist.
Strawbridge will now prepare for her imminent move to Division I school, University of Missouri-Kansas City.
LACEY LOWDOWN 