March S[imulation]adness Round 1 results: Oregon romps, Bucknell surprises in Portland region
A pair of shockers
[Please enjoy our March S[imulation]adness content. For more about this project, check out our explainer post.]
Sabrina Ionescu picked up right where she left off, scoring 22 points, adding 13 rebounds and 11 assists in top seed Oregon’s 92-35 win over Seattle in the first round of the 2020 March S[imulation]adness Tournament.
More from News
- Bet $5 on Sparks vs. Sky, Win $150 Instantly with Limited-Time DraftKings Promo
- Cash in for Over $2,000 With WNBA Promo Bonuses from FanDuel & Caesars
- FanDuel WNBA Promo Code Gives You $2,500 Bonus for ANY Game Tonight!
- Unlock Over $4,500 Bonus With 3 Best WNBA Sportsbook Promos!
- One number that can decide the fate of each WNBA playoff team
Form did not hold throughout the region, however.
Fans left Wintrust Arena shocked, after three seed DePaul fell in their first round game to 14 seed Southeast Missouri State, 78-76. Tesia Thompson scored 34, including the game-winner with less than four seconds left, to push the Redhawks into the round of 32.
The Patriot League also scored a win over a Power 5 conference, as Ellie Mack’s four three-pointers helped her score 19 points in 12 seed Bucknell’s 68-62 win over the five seed, Florida State.
Elsewhere in the region, Naz Hillmon scored 24 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to help eight seed Michigan advance past Mike Neighbors’ ninth-seeded Arkansas, 81-71. The Wolverines next face Oregon in Eugene.
In a battle of mid-majors, Jill Townsend’s 21 points helped four seed Gonzaga rout 13 seed Stony Brook, 81-55. And Lauren Heard’s 25 point, nine-rebound performance pushed TCU past Central Michigan, 72-67.
The great Chennedy Carter, who may declare for the 2020 WNBA Draft, extended her collegiate career with 26 points and six assists for the six seed, Texas A&M, in a 71-58 win over Purdue.
They’ll take on two seed Connecticut in Storrs for a trip to the Sweet 16, after Crystal Dangerfield sank five threes and totaled 20 points in an 88-49 first round win over Mount St. Mary’s.
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
1 Oregon 92, 16 Seattle 35 Sabrina Ionescu 22 points, 13 rebs, 11 asts
9 Michigan 81, 8 Arkansas 71 Naz Hillmon 24 points, 11 rebs
12 Bucknell 68, 5 Florida State 62 Ellie Mack 19 points, 4-6 3pt
4 Gonzaga 81, 13 Stony Brook 55 Jill Townsend 21 points
6 Texas A&M 71, 11 Purdue 58 Chennedy Carter 26 pts, 6 asts
14 SE Missouri State 78, DePaul 76 Tesia Thompson 34 pts, 11 rebs
7 TCU 72, 10 Central Michigan 67 Lauren Heard 25 pts, 9 rebs
2 Connecticut 88, 15 Mt. St. Mary’s 49 Crystal Dangerfield 20 points, 5/6 3pt
SECOND ROUND SCHEDULE
1 Oregon vs. 9 Michigan
12 Bucknell vs. 4 Gonzaga
6 Texas A&M vs. 14 SE Missouri State
7 TCU vs. 2 Connecticut
Love our 24/7 women’s basketball coverage? Join our Patreon now and support this work, while getting extra goodies and subscriber-only content for yourself.