NCAAW: FSU, Alabama score biggest wins in upset-filled Thursday

The upsets keep piling on in women’s college basketball.

On Thursday, No. 24 Florida State beat No. 3 Notre Dame, 86-81, and No. 21 Alabama squeaked out a win in overtime against No. 7 LSU, 88-85. The results almost immediately rendered the second top-16 reveal irrelevant, and the top 25 rankings certainly will change this upcoming week.

Latson, Timpson fuel FSU in South Bend shocker

The Seminoles got a masterclass from Ta’Niya Latson in this win. She had 23 points, five rebounds and nine assists. Makayla Timpson was also huge in the victory, ending the night with 22 points and 17 rebounds. The Fighting Irish struggled with their shooting, but Liatu King was a positive, going 8-for-15 from the field, good for 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Florida State won the war, but the battle was going in Notre Dame’s favor to start the opening quarter. After a Kate Koval jumper, the Fighting Irish led 11-7 midway through the quarter. Olivia Miles and Hannah Hidalgo made their living on the charity stripe, and they ended the first up 23-14.

In the second quarter, Florida State flipped the script and began taking control. The Seminoles finally started making their shots, and after a pair of Sydney Bowles 3-pointers and two Timpson layups, the deficit had shrunk to three. After a 3-pointer from Carla Viegas, the Seminoles had completed the comeback and led by one. Viegas made another from downtown, and Florida State was ahead 44-40 at the break.

The second half saw less 3-point shooting for the Seminoles, as they instead attacked the paint and got to the line. Steals turned into points, and they maintained their four-point edge midway through the third.

Notre Dame momentarily took the lead thanks to a Sonia Citron basket, but after that, Florida State went on a 10-0 run that permanently swung the contest in their favor.

The Fighting Irish tried to slowly chip away at the lead in the fourth, and after a Hildago-Citron 7-0 run, Notre Dame was back within striking distance. However, Timpson and Latson kept making their baskets and free throws to protect the lead and pull off the upset. Notre Dame wasn’t good enough throughout the second half and ran out of time for a potential comeback.

Tide roll Tigers in OT in Tuscaloosa

Alabama won thanks to Sarah Ashlee Barker and Aaliyah Nye leading the charge. Nye scored a game-high 28 points, and Barker scored 21. The Mikaylah Williams-Aneesah Morrow combination was the main reason the Tigers had a chance against the Tide. Williams scored 22 points on 8-for-17 shooting, and Morrow scored 16 points and had nine rebounds.

To start the game, Essence Cody was the offense igniter for Alabama. She scored the first points for the Tide, and after a pair of made free throws, she had Bama up 20-9. LSU was never comfortable during the opening period, but they did close out the first on a 7-3 run and trailed by just seven to start the second.

The rest of the half proceeded with Morrow trying to will LSU back ahead, but Alabama responded with a huge basket whenever she attempted to do that. Cody scored 15 of her 17 in the first half, and Barker and Nye sprinkled in their offensive contributions, and the Tide were up by double figures come halftime.

In the third, LSU finally started rallying. Flau’jae Johnson was tipping baskets in, Mjracle Sheppard was scoring as well, and suddenly the lead was only five points with 4:21 to play in the quarter. Nye then scored seven of the next 10 Alabama points, and the rally was over—for the moment.

During the final period, LSU restarted its rally. The trio of Johnson, Sheppard and Morrow got the team back into the game, and after a Morrow make, LSU took their first lead of the game with 2:14 left to play. Barker and Zaay Green scored four-straight baskets for Alabama, but Morrow and Williams countered, and the game was even at 79. Green got the last shot during regulation but bricked it, and we headed to extra time in Tuscaloosa.

Both teams made 3-pointers to start OT, and Barker made a layup with 2:14 left to give the Tide the lead. No more shots were made from either side as Johnson made one free throw for LSU and Green made a pair from the charity stripe for Bama. LSU had one final shot at tying the game, but Williams missed a 3-pointer, and it was game over.

Other upsets

There were even more surprises on Thursday night, with No. 16 Duke beating No. 8 North Carolina, 68-53, and No. 15 Kentucky winning 82-58 against No. 11 Tennessee.

Looks like this March is going to be pure madness!