11 Women’s Basketball Games in This Important Two-Day Window That Will Change the Conference Race

Beginning at noon ET on Sunday, there will be approximately 36 hours of games that are essential to conference racing. It promises to see a lot of great women’s basketball as we enter an important phase of the season.

Here’s everything you need to know about Sunday and Monday’s action.

Two Pac-12 Tests for Top 10 Teams — Sunday 22nd January

No. 4 Stanford and No. 8 Utah went head-to-head on Friday, with the Cardinals claiming dominance by beating Ute 74-61.

Both teams now hold two separate tests on Sunday to stay top of the Pac-12. Stanford will play his No. 24 Colorado at home, while Utah will travel to California.

The Cardinals face newly ranked Colorado after falling to Southern California last week, then bounce back against the Utes. The conference loss broke a 39-game winning streak against Pac-12 opponents.

The championship-bound duo of Cameron Brink and Hayley Jones is in high spirits with 25 points and at least 12 rebounds. They will face a team of Buffaloes who have won 12 of their last 13 games and are currently tied with conference leader Stanford University at 6-1.

Meanwhile, Yuuto takes a quick test on paper. The Golden Bears are skating in his four-game skid that started with his 60-56 loss to Stanford. That was the first crack in the Cardinal’s armor, leading to the loss of the Congress to USC. The season title could extend into the final game at home if Utah can continue its winning streak.

🔮 BRACKETOLOGY: 1st March Madness Women’s Bracket Predictions for 2023

How to watch:
No. 4 Stanford vs. No. 24 Colorado — 5:00 PM ET on Pac-12 network
No. 8 Utah at California — 7:00 PM ET on Pac-12 network

No. 1 South Carolina Keeps Perfect — Sunday, January 22

Another SEC team gets crack at undefeated No. 1 South Carolina. Arkansas find themselves on the other side of the ring this time.

Arkansas went 17-4 and lost 79-76 to third-place LSU. other A conference team riding a perfect season so far. Early in the season, the Razorbacks were in a mixed race beating the AP rankings for weeks before slipping into his three-game losing streak.

The 19-0 Gamecocks (19-0) had the largest points differential in the nation, beating their opponents by an average of 36.7 points. Earlier this month, the defending champion faced a test against Mississippi State, but won on January 8 by his second-lowest margin of the season (7).

South Carolina often seems unstoppable, trailing Aaliyah Boston (12.7 points, 9.5 rebounds) and Zia Cook (15.4 points, 2.1 assists). But LSU does that too at times, and Arkansas relied on Angel Reese’s big 30-point, 19-rebound performance to push the Tigers to the brink and escape the Razorbacks.

Viewing method:
No. 1 South Carolina vs. Arkansas — ESPN2 3pm ET

All five ranked ACC teams in action — Sunday, January 22nd

All five ranked ACC teams play on Sunday, so any upsets could cause confusion in the conference.

It starts with the No. 13 Duke hosting the 13-6 Syracuse team. The Blue Devils lost to No. 17 North Carolina, but he leads the conference with Notre Dame, 6-1. Syracuse, per contest he scored 75.6 and in the ACC he is fourth.

Next, No. 12 Virginia Tech will face Wake Forest. Demon Deacons are 2-6 in ACC and 11-8 overall. But the Hokies can’t afford another upset after losing to Clemson and Miami in recent weeks, dropping him down to 5-3 in the ACC.

Elsewhere, No. 20 NC State moves to Louisville. The Wolfpack rebounded after falling two games to Florida and North Carolina where he returned to a 4-4 record in the ACC. Louisville may not have a ranking, but the Cardinals are half a game away from the conference leader with his 6-2 record.

The fourth matchup is No. 7 Notre Dame vs Virginia. His two losses for Notre Dame this season were both against ranked teams (Maryland and his UNC). The Irish approached the final game but survived Clemson 57-54. However, the Cavaliers could ditch Ireland’s conference title hopes with his 14-5 record.

Finally, No. 17 North Carolina will face Georgia Tech. After four straight losses, the Tar Heels keep rolling. North Carolina (4-3 in the ACC) has impressive wins against Notre Dame, Virginia, North Carolina and Duke.

How to watch:
No.13 Duke vs. Syracuse — 12:00 PM ET on the ACC network
No. 12 Virginia Tech v. Wake Forest — ACCNX 1:00 PM ET
No. 20 Louisville, North Carolina — 1:00 p.m. ABC Eastern Standard Time
No. 7 Notre Dame v. Virginia — 2 p.m. on the ACC network
No. 17 North Carolina v. Georgia Tech — 4pm on the ACC network

📊 Ranking: See the latest Women’s Basketball AP Poll

No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Iowa — Monday, January 23

Undefeated No. 2 Ohio faces its biggest conference challenge yet with No. 10 Iowa.

This Big Ten fight will prove a lot.

A win by the Hawkeyes would strengthen their position in conferences and the country. Iowa had its ups and downs, losing to unranked teams like Kansas State and Illinois State, but then No. 10 Iowa State and 14 Michigan. A win over the second-place team would change all that. It also took Iowa to her 8-1 in league play.

The match between Caitlin Clark and Taylor Mikesell is a must-see. In November, Mikesell steered the ship after Jacy Sheldon went down, averaging 18.5 points per game and 40.1% over three games. Clarke’s scoring average of 26.7 puts him third in the national scoring rankings. She has scored at least her 20 points in all but one game this season and has a 45.9% clip.

Viewing method:
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Iowa — ESPN2 7:00 PM ET

No. 3 LSU at Alabama — Monday, January 23

The No. 3 LSU’s undefeated 19-0 record hangs in Alabama. The Tigers outlasted a 79-76 terrifying final outing by his 30 points and 19 rebounds on Angel Reese.

Alabama enters the match with a three-game winning streak. So far, the Crimson Tide has faced just one ranked opponent, he could face LSU.

The Tigers are the nation’s top scoring team with 88.2 points per game, and the second-highest score in the nation, 36.2 points ahead of their opponents. Reese leads in points (24.4), rebounds (15.6), steals (1.8) and blocks (1.5).

Alabama has its last win in 2021, but has lost four of its last five matchups with the Tigers.

Viewing method:
3rd LSU in Alabama — 7:00 p.m. ET on the SEC network

No. 6 Indiana vs No. 14 Michigan — Monday, January 23

No. 6 Indiana takes No. 14 Michigan to cap off this crazy two-day run in women’s basketball.

Indiana is 17-1, narrowly trailing that record after losing to Michigan State just before the new year. Michigan lost to his two ranked opponents and suffered his first upset loss to Toledo.

Michigan holds steady at #14 in the AP poll. The Wolverines are led by a trio of Emily Kaiser (17.6 points), Laila Ferria (16.7 points) and Reiga Brown (15.8 points), with Mackenzie Holmes leading the Hoosiers in points (21.7) and rebounds (8.2).

With Michigan’s win and Ohio State’s loss, Indiana may move up further in the conference race later in the season. Conversely, OSU could be entrenched in the driver’s seat in his March.

How to watch:
No. 6 Indiana vs. No. 14 Michigan — 8 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network