LACEY LOWDOWN

Taine Murray had a couple of points and a pair of rebounds as Virginia University Cavaliers beat Mississippi State 60-57 in the opening round of the NIT (National Invitation Tournament). Virginia will play North Texas in the second round.

In Canada Cantabrian guard Sofia Kennedy tallied 3 rebounds and 2 points as Windsor University Lancers were defeated 77-67 by Guelph University Gryphons in the quarter-finals of the Ontario University Athletics Conference Tournament.

Izzy Cook, Rashaan Smith and Western Nebraska Cougars are through to the Second Round of the Women’s s NJCAA (Junior College) National Championships after the Cougars beat Murray State 71-59. Smith claimed 3 rebounds, 2 blocks and a made free throw.

The Cougars will next play Wabash Valley in the Second Round.

Yesterday Nate Wilson and South Georgia Tech Jets were eliminated 88-80 by #14 South Plains in the First Round of the Men’s NJCAA (Junior College) National Championships. Nate had 3 rebounds and an assist in the loss.

Upcoming Games:

NCAA Division I National Championships First Round

March 17

St Mary’s Gaels (Dan Fotu and Quinn Clinton) v Wyoming/Indiana

Colorado State (James Moors) v Michigan

New Mexico State (Yuat Alok) v UConn

March 18

Davidson (Sam Mennenga) v Michigan State

TCU (Harrison Young) v Seton Hall

Miami (Sam Waardenburg) v USC

Colorado (Charlotte Whittaker) v Creighton

March 19 

Washington State (Charlisse and Krystal Leger-Walker) v Kansas State

BYU (Tegan Graham, Kaylee Smiler and Arielle Mackey- Williams) v Villanova

NIT (National Invitation Tournament) Second Round

March 19 or 20 

Virginia (Taine Murray) v North Texas

WNIT (Women’s National Invitation Tournament) First Round

March 17

Wofford (Helen Matthews) at Middle Tennessee

March 18

Houston Baptist (Lauryn Mapusua) at Toledo

UC Irvine (Olivia Williams) at UCLA

Fordham (Kendell Heremaia) v Bucknell

Portland (Emme Shearer) v Colorado State (Jess Moors).

Women’s Basketball Invitational

March 18

St Mary’s Gaels (Tayla Dalton and Amy West) v Austin Peay

Men’s Basketball Invitational

March 20

Abilene Christian (Tobias Cameron) v Troy

NAIA Round of 16

March 17

Rocky Mountain (Dominique Stephens) v Wayland Baptist  

Junior College National Championships First Round

March 17

Casper College (Dejaan Schuler) v Hutchinson 

Junior College National Championships Second Round

March 18

Southern Idaho (Kyra Paniora, Ashlee Strawbridge) v Trinity Valley or Walters State

Western Nebraska( Izzy Cook, Rashaan Smith) v Wabash Valley

New Mexico State University Aggies are the Western Athletic Conference Champions after defeating Abilene Christian 66-52 in the Championship game.

The result means that Yuat Alok is the first Kiwi to be declared a starter at next week’s NCAA Tournament. The former Rangitoto College standout scored 2 points for the Aggies while Tobias Cameron had 4 points and a team high 5 rebounds for Abilene. 

The other Kiwi that could join Alok with an automatic berth is Sam Mennenga. After a team high 15 points in the quarters Mennenga produced a more sedate 4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists performance as Davidson College eased into the Atlantic 10 Conference Final with an 84-69 win against St Louis – a win in the final would clip Davidson’s ticket for the Big Dance.

In Women’s NCAA Division I action #2 seed UC Irvine had to settle for runners-up spot at the Big West Conference Tournament after being defeated  59-48 in the Grand Final by top seed Hawaii. Freshman guard  Olivia Williams had a couple of rebounds in that one.

Selection Sunday takes place tomorrow when we will learn which other Kiwis will be headed to the NCAA Tournament.

Following a first round win against Teinhardt University Rocky Mountain College pulled away from Dakota State to win their second round tie 89-73 at the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Women’s National Championship. Waikato’s Dominique Stephens finished with 5 points, 3 rebounds, all at the offensive end, a block and a steal as Rocky advance to the Round of 16.

Dallas Baptist University returned to the NCAA Division II National Championships for the fifth straight year but had to take on Black Hills State without centre Will Heather. The former Rosmini College National Championship winner has had to undergo surgery for a  lingering back injury. DBU struggled without their influential big man and were defeated 76-68.

Former Harbour guard Hannah Wentworth was New Zealand’s sole representative at the Women’s NCAA Division II National Championships but she and her Eckerd College teammates couldn’t repeat the heroics of their first round victory against Florida Southern. Wentworth made 4 from 5 from deep on her way to 15 points in that one but came up short in the 73-48 second round loss to Union University making 9 points plus pairs of rebounds, assists and steals.

Former Rangitoto College big man Yuat Alok had 6 points (3/6FG) as top seed New Mexico State squeezed past Grand Canyon 75-70 in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) semi-finals. 

On the other side of the WAC draw 18 points (4/8FG, 10/11FT) from Tobias Cameron helped Abilene Christian edge Seattle 78-76 The result means either Cameron or Alok will be headed to the NCAA Tournament depending on the outcome of the Grand Final between their respective teams.

In the Atlantic 10 Conference quarter-final, Sam Mennenga’s Davidson College proved too good for Zach Riley’sFordham University Rams winning 74-56. Mennenga led the Davidson effort with 15 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists while Riley scored 5 points and added 4 rebounds for Fordham.

Top seed Davidson take on St Louis in semi-final action.

Miami University caused one of the upsets of the season when they defeated Number 1 ranked Duke in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) regular season play. Miami couldn’t quite repeat the feat at the ACC semi-finals beaten  80-76 by the Blue Devils. Sam Waardenburg had 8 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds and a couple of blocks in the defeat.

James Moors and second seeded Colorado State University Rams  were beaten 63-58 by third seed San Diego State in the Mountain West Conference semi-finals.

Harrison Young and Texas Christian University were defeated 75-62 the semi-final of the Big 12 Conference Tournament.

It has been a successful day for the three Kiwi women in action today at March Madness – three competitions three winners!

Hannah Wentworth is New Zealand’s sole representative at the Women’s NCAA Division II National Championships and she played a strong hand as Eckerd College dominated the second half to defeat Florida Southern 69-64. Wentworth, shooting over 40% this season from beyond the arc, exceeded that mark by knocking down 4 from 5 from deep on her way to 15 points.

Also flying a lone flag for New Zealand is Dominique Stephens at the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Women’s Basketball National Championship. Rocky Mountain College hosted Teinhardt University in the opening round of the 64 team Championship and with Stephens grabbing 4 rebounds and making a couple of blocks came away 63-44 winners. 

In NCAA Division I Women’s play UC Irvine needed overtime to overcome UC Davis before prevailing 84-75 in the semi-final of the Big West Conference Tournament. Olivia Williams, recently named to the Big West All-Freshman Team, scored 4 points with her team now just one win away from an automatic berth at the NCAA Tournament. 

Miami University Hurricanes edged Boston College 71-69 in overtime in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) quarter-finals. Sam Waardenburg had a valuable double of 9 points and 9 rebounds, including the defensive board with five seconds remaining to help set up the winning play, particularly important.

Not joining Miami in the ACC semis are Taine Murray and Virginia after the Cavaliers were comfortably beaten 63-43 by North Carolina.

Tobias Cameron grabbed a team high 7 rebounds to accompany 6 points and 4 assists as Abilene Christian University upset Stephen F Austin University 76-62in the quarter-finals of the Western Athletic Conference.

It wasn’t such good news for brother Flynn Cameron as UC Riverside fell agonisingly short against Hawaii pipped 68-67 in the Big West Conference quarters.

Cameron scored 17 points making 5 from 9 three-pointers while Callum McRae tallied 6 points, 6 rebounds and a couple of blocks.

Zach Riley scored 6 points as Fordham Rams defeated George Mason in the Atlantic 10 play-offs. The win sets up a meeting with Sam Mennenga’s Davidson College in the semi-finals tomorrow.

Second seeded Colorado State University Rams were made to fight all the way before overcoming #7 Utah State 53-51 in a Mountain West Conference Quarter-Final. James Moors had 4 points, 3 rebounds and a block for the Rams.

Harrison Young and Texas Christian upset #22 Texas 65-60 to progress to the semi-final of the Big 12 Conference Tournament.

Not such good news for Texas Christian Women. They fell in the first round of the Big 12 Conference Tournament defeated 68-48 by West Virginia. Junior guard Tara Manumaleuga grabbed 3 rebounds and a couple of steals in the defeat.

Tobias Cameron was in good scoring touch as Abilene Christian University overcame Utah Valley 82-74 in the second round of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament in Las Vegas. The former junior Tall Black guard finished with 17 points making 6 from 10 from the field including 3 of 6 from beyond the 3-point arc.

Tom Webley scored a couple of points as Hartford Hawks exited the America East Conference Tournament at the semi-final stage beaten 80-60 by UMBC.

Louisville University, with former Tall Blacks assistant Ross McMains in their coaching group, pushed Taine Murray’s Virginia all the way before losing a low scoring game 50-51 at the Atlantic Coast Tournament.

Tom Webley scored a couple of points as Hartford Hawks exited the America East Conference Tournament at the semi-final stage beaten 80-60 by UMBC.

Florida International University Panthers bowed out 78-60 to Southern Mississippi in the quarter-finals of the Conference USA Tournament. 

Grace Hunter dished a team high 4 assists to accompany 7 points, 3 rebounds and a block in the defeat.

Jessica Moors and Colorado State had to be satisfied with runners-up place at the Mountain West Conference Tournament after losing 75-65 to UNLV in the Grand Final.

Olivia Williams, recently named to the Big West Conference All-Freshman Team scored 2 points as second seeded UC Irvine beat Cal State Fullerton 80-68 in quarter-final play.

For the second successive year Brigham Young University (BYU) have been defeated by Gonzaga in the Grand Final of the West Coast Conference Tournament, this year defeated 71-59.

Tegan Graham had a game high 6 assists but couldn’t get her shooting game going finishing on 5 points. Kaylee Smilerscored 2 points.

Also for the second successive year BYU have been denied direct entry into the NCAA Tournament that a conference championship provides. Instead they will hope to hear their name called out as an at-large bid come the Selection Sunday Show this weekend.

With an overall 26-3 record this season and a national ranking of 15 selection would appear to be a formality but it will still be a nervous wait for Graham, Smiler and the third Kiwi on the BYU roster, Arielle Mackey-Williams.

On the Men’s side of the West Coast Conference Tournament Saint Mary’s College Men suffered the same fate as BYU Women – defeated by Gonzaga in the semi-finals. Downed 82-69, with Dan Fotu scoring 6 points, St Mary’s will have to wait to see if they participate in the National Championships.

Again, the omens are good for Kiwi involvement with St Mary’s putting together a 25-7 record and holding a national ranking of 17.

I was playing devil’s advocate with the headline, I’m sure both players will be suiting up at the National Championships next week.

We can look forward to following four teams at the Junior College National Championships later this month.

Western Nebraska College Cougars are headed to the National Tournament after receiving an at-large selection meaning three women’s teams with a Kiwi connection will be headed to the Women’s Junior College National Champs (March 16-21).

Cougars Rashaan Smith and Izzy Cook are joined by Dejaan Schuler (Casper College T-Birds) and the Southern Idaho Golden Eagles duo Ashlee Strawbridge and Kyra Paniora – the Eagles and T Birds having won Regional Tournaments to clip their qualifying tickets.

Schuler, the ex Te Aroha and Waikato standout scored a team high 15 points (6/10FG) as Casper defeated Eastern Wyoming 71-57 in the Region 9 Tournament Grand Final victory. 

College of Southern Idaho beat Snow College 63-57 to win the Region 18 Championship –

Strawbridge finished with a team high 7 rebounds to accompany 4 points and 2 steals while Paniora contributed 2 points and 2 rebounds for the Golden Eagles.

Nate Wilson will be the sole New Zealandi representative at the Men’s National Championship (March 14-19)  In the Grand-Final of the Region 17 Tournament the South Georgia Tech Jets won an overtime thriller 87-84 to book their ticket. The former Mt Albert Grammar forward scored 7 points on a perfect three-from-three from the floor, corralled 4 rebounds, a steal and a block.

Congratulations to Molly Cockburn, who after a successful two years at Miles Community College, will further her academic and basketball career at Chadron State University. Chadron State Eagles play NCAA Division II basketball in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Nate Wilson and South Georgia Tech Jets are bound for the Junior College (NJCCA) National Championships. In the Grand-Final of the Region 17 Tournament the Jets won an overtime thriller 87-84 to book their ticket. The former Mt Albert Grammar forward scored 7 points on a perfect three-from-three from the floor, corralled 4 rebounds, a steal and a block.

Dejaan Schuler and Casper College are also National Championship bound. Schuler scored 11 points as Casper defeated Laramie County 69-52 in the semi-final of the Region 9 Tournament. Casper followed that with a 71-57 success against Eastern Wyoming in the Grand Final (scorers from that game were not published at the time of posting this story).

The NJCAA Championship Selection Show will be held tomorrow. With Southern Idaho (featuring Ashlee Strawbridge and Kyra Paniora) having booked a spot earlier in the week Western Nebraska (featuring Izzy Cook and Rashaan Smith) will be hoping the Selection Committee looks favourably on their strong regular season performances.

Men’s NCAA Division I 

Callum McRae scored 14 points (5/7FG, 4/4FT) and Flynn Cameron 7 points as UC Riverside were pipped 73-72 at Long Beach State. McRae pulled down 10 rebounds to give him his 8^th double-double of the season and 4^th in the last 5 games ahead of the Big West Tournament.

Sam Mennenga also notched 14 points as Davidson University Wildcats dropped their final Atlantic 10 Conference game to Dayton 82-76. Mennenga also came up with 3 rebounds and a block at the defensive end. Davidson, with a 15-3 record are guaranteed at least a share of the A-10 regular season title.

Yuat Alok had 7 points (3/4FG) as New Mexico State ensured at least a share of the Western Athletic Conference regular season title with a 62-46 win at Utah State.

Sam Waardeburg and Miami University Hurricanes finished off the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season in style beating Syracuse 75-72. Ahead of the ACC Tournament Waaardenburg had 6 points, 5 rebounds, a block and a steal.

Colorado State 71 (James Moors 2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal) Boise State 68

Abilene Christian 61 (Tobias Cameron 5 points, 2 rebounds 2 assists) Tarleton State 56 

Fordham 70 (Zach Riley 2 points) Goeorge Washington 66

In women’s Division I action Lauryn Mapusua had 6 points (2/3 3PG) and 3 rebounds as Houston Baptist defeated McNeese to finish a lofty 12-2 in Southland Conference play.

The win gives the Huskies its first ever Southland Conference regular season title. Queensland educated Mapusua played for New Zealand at the 2017 FIBA U18 Oceania Championship in Guam.

Emme Shearer and Portland University Pilots overwhelmed Loyola Marymount 69-44 in quarter-final action at the West Coast Conference Championship. Portland will now take on top-ranked BYU, boasting Kiwis Tegan Graham, Kaylee Miler and Arielle Mackey-Williams, in the semi-final.

Florida International 72 (Grace Hunter 1reb, 2 assists) Florida Atlantic 56

St Peter’s,New Jersey 43 (Victoria Ikenasio 4 points, 6 rebounds) Fairfield 56

UC Irvine 67 (Olivia Williams 2 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist) CSU Bakersfield 52

NCAA Division II 

In the East Coast Conference semi-final St Thomas Aquinas were well beaten by Molloy 71-49. Chanel Brodeur-Muirhad 4 rebounds, 3 assists, a block and 2 points in the loss.

Eva Langton and Texas A&M International were beaten 75-56 by top seeded West Texas A&M in the Lone Star Conference quarters. The Taranaki wing dealt in triples with threes in points, rebounds and assists in the defeat.

Kendell Heremaia top scored with 22 points as sixth seeded Fordham Rams beat George Mason 66-50 at the  Atlantic-10 Conference Tournament to advance to the semi-finals. That takes Heremaia’s career points tally to 1,275 moving her past Rhaiah Spooner-Knight (1,262 points at Monmouth 2017-18 and Utah Valley 2013-16) and up to 5th all-time for New Zealand points scorers in Women’s NCAA Division I basketball.

#2 Wofford advanced at the Southern Conference Championship with a 66-54 victory against East Tennessee State. Helen Matthews had 4 points and 7 rebounds for Wofford who face a semi-final clash with Furman tomorrow.

It wasn’t such good news for Washington State as they were knocked out in the quarter-finals at the Pac-12 Conference Tournament defeated 70-59 by Utah. It was a night when the shots wouldn’t drop for Washington State. Krystal Leger-Walker finished with 4 points, 4 steals, 3 assists and 2 rebounds while Charlisse L-W had 6 points, 7 assists and 2 rebounds.

UC Irvine 67 (Olivia Williams, 2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal) Cal Poly

In NCAA Division II play Hannah Wentworth was one of three Eckerd College players to score in double figures as the Tritons were defeated 58-46 by Florida Southern in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament semi-final. Wentworth scored 11 points making 3 from 6 from beyond the 3-point arc.

In Men’s Division I action Tom Webley had 4 points, 3 rebounds and 3 blocks as Hartford Hawks were defeated 83-73 by UMass Lowell.

Hartford will line up against Albany in the America East Conference Tournament beginning Sunday.

Flynn Cameron knocked down 4 of 8 three-pointers on his way to 14 points, with 6 rebounds, as UC Riverside won its penultimate regular season game against Cal State Fullerton (75-72). Callum McRae chipped in with 8 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the victors.

Abilene Christian 80 (Tobias Cameron 3 points,2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal) Dixie State 64.