Your Day in Women’s Basketball, February 26: SEC awards up for grabs, Seimone Augustus returns to Los Angeles
By James Hyman
SEC stars showing out when it matters most
There are many very deserving individuals who will not get the SEC Player of the Year award this season, and they put on a show Thursday night. Seeding in the SEC Tournament is also up for grabs, which could be paramount for NCAA tourney seeds or even making the field in general.
The discussion starts with last year’s POY Rhyne Howard. A future WNBA lottery pick, Howard carries Kentucky night in and night out with volume and efficient scoring. The #19 Wildcats needed all 27 of her points against #19 Georgia, as the Bulldogs had a comeback attempt thwarted by a late Howard dagger from beyond the arc.
It was a massive win for Kentucky to give the squad some much-needed rest, as a win in their season finale against Ole Miss will clinch a bye in the first round of the SEC tourney. Georgia, on the other hand, suffers their 5th SEC loss but fourth to a ranked opponent. It’s enough losses that the Bulldogs will probably fall to a 4-seed, which could mean danger for a one-seed in an eventual sweet sixteen matchup.
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Tennessee was on the ropes against Missouri before Rennia Davis completely took over. Another SEC POTY hopeful, Davis did it all to keep the Lady Vols from getting upset, scoring 19 points in the fourth quarter. Multiple three-pointers and jumpers from all over the court, the senior wing is not only rising up draft boards but is poised to lead Tennessee on a deep tournament run.
Down 5 going into the fourth, Arkansas was the next ranked SEC school to need a fourth-quarter comeback. Auburn held Chelsea Dungee and Amber Ramirez to 10-26 shooting, but a ten-point swing in the final period lead by stingy perimeter defense and the Razorbacks could breath a sigh of relief. Dungee is another WNBA hopeful that has the ability to completely take over games.
I will be the first person to admit I thought South Carolina would have a cakewalk through the SEC this season, but there are a handful of legitimate contenders for the crown.
Sparks keep stars for the future
Seimone Augustus announced that she would finish her career in Los Angeles, it’s just a matter of when. Augustus should be a lock for the Hall of Fame, with 4 championships and 8-time all-star, not to mention multiple accolades at LSU.
The Sparks and Chiney Ogwumike agreed to a multi-year contact extension. Ogwumike sat out last season but brings experience and inside scoring along with the family chemistry with sister Nneka. Los Angeles will look much different without Candace Parker and Chelseas Gray, but solidifying their forward is a good start for the future.
Michigan, again
It feels like every article I write the Michigan Wolverines somehow sneak into it, and they had to be mentioned after falling apart against Iowa. Start to finish the Hawkeyes dominated the game, with Caitlin Clark and her 27/5/9 stat line being too much to come back from.
Michigan has had an up and down stretch to end the regular season, but with Ohio St. losing on Wednesday the Wolverines are somehow still in a good position in a muddled Big 10.