Villanova star Maddy Siegrist scored 35 points in the Wildcats’ 76-59 first-round NCAA Tournament win over Cleveland State on Saturday to become the fifth Division I women’s player to score 1,000 points in a season.
Siegrist’s total sits at 1,019, which ranks fourth behind Washington’s Kelsey Plum (1,109 in 2016-17), Missouri State’s Jackie Stiles (1,062 in 2000-01) and Baylor’s Odyssey Sims (1,054 in 2013-14). Siegrist passed Iowa’s Megan Gustafson (1,001 in 2018-19) on Saturday.
“It’s definitely something that I never even like thought about,” Siegrist said. “I never even thought that was an achievable goal. So yeah, it means a lot. I’m really glad we won the game. It’s better when you win when you get a milestone than when you lose and you get one.”
Siegrist, a first-team All-American, made 15 of 28 shots in a game the Wildcats (29-6) led by as many as 32 points.
The Wildcats will face 12th-seeded Florida Gulf Coast (33-3) on Monday in the second round.
Destiny Leo scored 25 points for the 13th-seeded Vikings (30-5).
STORRS SUBREGIONAL
No. 7 Baylor 78, No. 10 Alabama 74
Ja’Mae Asberry scored 26 points and the Bears (20-12) overcame an 18-point deficit to stun the Crimson Tide (20-11).
Baylor trailed 22-4 after one quarter before staging the comeback that earns them a date against No. 2 seed UConn on Monday. Baylor’s Sarah Andrews contributed 14 points and four blocked shots.
Brittany Davis matched her career best of 33 points for Alabama, which lost its fifth straight game.
DURHAM SUBREGIONAL
No. 3 Duke 89, No. 14 Iona 49
Elizabeth Balogun and Celeste Taylor scored 13 points apiece to help the Blue Devils roll to an easy victory over the Gaels.
Duke (26-6) led 47-16 at halftime and shot 57.1 percent overall from the field with its lead topping out at 43 points.
Ketsia Athias scored 20 points on 10-of-14 shooting for Iona (26-7).
No. 6 Colorado 82, No. 1 Middle Tennessee 60
Frida Formann made five 3-pointers while scoring 21 points as the Buffaloes cruised past the Blue Raiders to advance to play Duke on Monday.
Jaylyn Sherrod added 13 points for Colorado (24-8).
Anastasiia Boldyreva had 16 points for Middle Tennessee (28-5), which had a 10-game winning streak halted.
AUSTIN SUBREGIONAL
No. 4 Texas 79, No. 13 East Carolina 40
Shaylee Gonzales scored 20 points and Rori Harmon had 12 assists as the Longhorns routed the Pirates to land a date with Louisville on Monday.
Taylor Jones added 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting off the bench for Texas (26-9).
Danae McNeal had 13 points for East Carolina (23-10).
No. 5 Louisville 83, No. 12 Drake 81
Hailey Van Lith scored 13 of her 26 points in the final 4:18 to help the Cardinals fend off the Bulldogs’ upset bid.
Mykasa Robinson registered 14 points, seven assists and three steals for Louisville (24-11).
Katie Dinnebier scored 20 points for Drake (22-10).
LOS ANGELES SUBREGIONAL
No. 5 Oklahoma 85, No. 12 Portland 63
Aubrey Joens and Taylor Robertson scored 14 points apiece as the Sooners (26-6) knocked off the Pilots.
Robertson made all three of her 3-point shots to extend her NCAA career record to 537 makes.
Alex Fowler scored 18 points for Portland (23-9).
No. 4 UCLA 67, No. 13 Sacramento State 45
Kiki Rice led three players in double figures as the Bruins cruised past the Hornets.
Emily Bessoir added 14 points for the Bruins (26-9).
Isnelle Natabou led Sac State (25-8) with 16 points.
–Field Level Media
