With conference schedules in full swing, this week is ripe with big women’s college basketball games in both the Top 25 and Southeastern Conference. The Tennessee Volunteers go on the road to face a pair of good SEC foes, while Georgia and LSU battle for second place. The Big 12 has good matchups with Oklahoma battling two of the best teams in the conference. Also, the top two teams in the country play one another.
No. 2 Connecticut (18-0, 6-0 Big East) vs. No. 1 Duke (19-0, 7-0 ACC) Feb. 1
All eyes will be on Durham, N.C., as two of the top teams in college basketball square off to decide who the best of the best is. UCONN could be playing for its 59th consecutive win if it can get by No. 20 Villanova Wednesday and ensures both teams are undefeated on Feb. 1.
The key to this game will be how well the superstars play for each team. Dana Taurasi and Ann Strother will try to hit big shots, especially from 3-point range, to help the defending national champion Huskies win on the road. Taurasi, the only starter from last year’s 39-0 team, averages 18.3 points per game, but she may need at least 30 points to counteract Duke’s potent shooting attack.
The Lady Devils rely on juniors Alana Beard and Iciss Tillis along with a great supporting cast to shoot 47 percent from the floor every game. Beard, who leads the team in nearly all statistical categories, averages 24.3 points per game while Tillis scored a career high 30 points in the win over Florida State.
Both teams have been in close games this year, and this one likely will not disappoint the fans. Duke may have the advantage in what may be called an instant classic. The Lady Devils will be playing in front of the “Cameron Crazies” and will not have the pressure of the nation’s longest winning streak on its back.
No. 3 Kansas State (18-1, 5-0 Big XII) at. No. 22 Oklahoma (13-5, 4-1) Feb. 1
The Wildcats are flying high after a big 71-69 win over Texas and moved up in the polls after LSU’s loss to Arkansas. Top scorers Kendra Wecker and Nicole Ohlde lead a strong KSU shooting attack that could give the Sooners fits.
After slipping past Baylor 65-64, Oklahoma has a pair of tough games at home in Norman, Okla., having to play Texas also earlier in the week. A win could propel the Sooners closer to the top of the Big 12, while a loss puts them further behind a plethora of talented teams in the conference.
No. 4 Tennessee (16-3, 5-0 SEC) at No. 8 Arkansas (16-4, 3-2) Jan. 30
UT head coach Pat Summitt has her work cut out for her this week, having to play four Top 25 teams in a nine-day span. After knocking off ranked SEC foes South Carolina and Mississippi State, the Volunteers head to Bud Walton Arena to take on a tough Lady Backs’ team.
UT guards Kara Lawson and Gwen Jackson matchup well with Arkansas’ Shameka Christon and India Lewis, but Arkansas has struggled recently in losses to Auburn and Vanderbilt. Arkansas does have the home court advantage with a 10-0 record this season in Fayetteville.
No. 4 Tennessee (16-3, 5-0 SEC) at No.17 Vanderbilt (12-6, 2-3) Feb. 2
Without All-American guard Ashley McElhiney, the Commodores will have a tough time defending UT’s Kara Lawson. Her absence showed in the LSU loss, and Vandy will need big production from 6-foot-6 center Chantelle Anderson to keep pace with the high-scoring Volunteers. The home crowd will be an advantage for Vanderbilt, but it will need points from all the starters to pull the upset.
No. 24 Georgia ( 4-0 SEC) at No. 6 LSU (17-1, 5-1) Feb. 2
The Lady Tigers have played well at home all season and must continue the trend against the Bulldogs to stay near the top of the SEC. Seimone Augustus has stepped up her game lately with DeTrina White out due to injury. LSU must get good production from post players Ke-Ke Tardy and Wendyln Jones to free up Augustus and Doneeka Hodges from the outside. Kara Braxton and Christi Thomas will try to keep Georgia tied for the SEC lead in what could be a close game.
No. 17 Texas (12-5, 5-1 Big XII) at No. 22 Oklahoma (13-5, 4-1) Jan. 29
After losing heartbreakers to Top 5 teams Tennessee and Kansas State, Texas looks to get a much needed win over the Sooners and hangs on to second place in the Big 12. After reaching 800 wins, Longhorn coach Jody Conradt has a long road ahead of her if she wants a conference title. Heather Schreiber and freshman point guard Nina Norman lead Texas. Schreiber is averaging 16.3 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
Oklahoma will need a solid performance from its starters to contain Texas’ two-step. The Sooners have four players averaging double figures including Maria Villarroel, who is scoring 16.7 points a game.
Auburn (14-4, 2-3 SEC) at Ole Miss (11-7, 1-5) Feb. 2
After a stunning 64-36 upset of No. 8 Arkansas, Auburn appears to be making a name for itself in the wild SEC race. The Tigers got 23 points from Natasha Brackett and held the Lady Backs to 15 second half points.
If Auburn wants to continue its winning ways, it will have to go through Amber Watts and Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss., to get back in the thick of the conference standings. Watts is the Rebels’ top scorer, averaging 12.0 points per game, and this is a must-win game for her team, which is 1-5 in conference play.