Choice Sunday is lower than 5 weeks away. A 2024-25 ladies’s school basketball season that has flown by is hitting the stretch run at warp velocity.
The following month within the Large Ten will decide which groups survive the bubble. The groups that land within the high 16 will largely shift based mostly on how the SEC race performs out. UCLA<\/a>, South Carolina<\/a> and Notre Dame<\/a> have seemed dominant of their leagues and are sturdy favorites to be No. 1 seeds within the NCAA event. However their convention leads are nonetheless slim. Any slipups may alter the nationwide panorama and the Large Ten, SEC and ACC races dramatically. All of them have monumental video games to return.
Whereas matchups on Thursdays and Sundays dominate the ladies’s school basketball calendar, almost each night time the remainder of the common season provides one thing that would affect the postseason.
ESPN highlights the most important recreation every night time for the remainder of the common season, with some honorable mentions thrown in.
All occasions are Jap<\/em>
Payton Verhulst scores 10 of her 19 factors within the fourth quarter whereas Sahara Williams ends the night time with 14 to provide the Sooners a 66-56 victory towards the Rebels.

Kentucky Wildcats<\/a> at Ole Miss Rebels<\/a> (7 p.m., ESPN2)<\/strong>
The Wildcats have been the most important shock within the SEC with Kenny Brooks and Georgia Amoore<\/a> immediately restoring this system to not simply relevance however bona fide convention championship competition. This journey to Oxford follows an eight-day break and begins essentially the most difficult a part of Kentucky’s schedule. Residence video games towards Texas, LSU and Tennessee comply with earlier than ending the season at South Carolina. Each the Wildcats and Ole Miss are additionally vying for a top-four seed within the SEC and NCAA tournaments. And Amoore, having one of the best season of an already substantial profession, is a high contender for SEC participant of the 12 months.

West Virginia Mountaineers<\/a> at Baylor Bears<\/a> (8 p.m., ESPN+)<\/strong>
Kansas State and TCU have set the tempo within the Large 12, however the Mountaineers and Bears have hung round and are in place to make a late push for an everyday season title. Baylor wraps up with back-to-back video games towards the Wildcats and Horned Frogs, whereas West Virginia will get the convention leaders in consecutive video games the week prior. How significant these video games are to the Large 12 race will hinge on who wins this matchup.

Indiana Hoosiers<\/a> at Michigan Wolverines<\/a> (7 p.m., BIG+)<\/strong>
As anticipated, Michigan’s younger gamers have had their ups — going toe-to-toe with South Carolina within the season opener — and downs, shedding to Wisconsin two weeks in the past. The Wolverines are a close to certainty to make the NCAA event, and that could be a massive accomplishment for coach Kim Barnes-Arico and her employees after ushering in so many new gamers. However the Wolverines are risking an unfavorable seed with out one other high quality win or two within the last month. This is able to qualify.

UCLA Bruins<\/a> at USC Trojans<\/a> (10 p.m., Peacock)<\/strong>
That is the primary of two conferences within the common season’s last three weeks between the newly minted Large Ten heavyweights and will determine the convention championship. USC’s loss to Iowa on Feb. 2 mixed with this recreation on the Galen Middle makes it that rather more vital for the Trojans. If JuJu Watkins<\/a> goes to make one final push for nationwide participant of the 12 months, this could be place to start out — a recreation towards the Bruins and Lauren Betts<\/a>, who has emerged as a co-favorite with Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo<\/a>.

Brown Bears<\/a> at Princeton Tigers<\/a> (6 p.m., ESPN+)<\/strong>
The highest contenders within the Ivy cannot afford any pointless slipups. Brown is the clear No. 4 workforce within the league behind Columbia, Harvard and Princeton, so this marks the Tigers’ hardest check exterior of the massive three the remainder of the way in which. The Bears may solidify their spot in Ivy Insanity with a win, however they may additionally wreck the league’s probabilities of having a number of NCAA event bids by taking down Princeton.

Drake Bulldogs<\/a> at Belmont Bruins<\/a> (5 p.m., ESPN+)<\/strong>
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Main the convention in assists and steals and rating second in scoring, Katie Dinnebier<\/a> is the favourite to win MVC participant of the 12 months for a second straight season. However the Bulldogs have not had the season they anticipated and are wanting up at Belmont within the standings. The Bruins — who performed shut video games with Ohio State, Michigan, Mississippi State and Kentucky — are essentially the most balanced workforce within the MVC. 5 gamers are averaging double figures, led by sophomore Jailyn Banks<\/a>. Belmont is seeking to win the league for the second time in three years since becoming a member of the MVC from the Ohio Valley.

UConn Huskies<\/a> at South Carolina Gamecocks<\/a> (1 p.m., ABC)<\/strong>
The Gamecocks lead the nation in almost each significant NCAA event analysis analytic and seemingly have a No. 1 seed wrapped up. Nonetheless, that standing may very well be in jeopardy with a loss right here. UConn, which already has losses to different No. 1 seed contenders Notre Dame and USC, has to win this recreation for any hope at being a high seed for the primary time since 2021. The Gamecocks have crushed the Huskies of their final 4 conferences.
LSU additionally visits Texas within the second recreation of an ABC doubleheader, and the matchup serves as a de facto No. 1 seed elimination recreation.
Joyce Edwards leads the Gamecocks’ offense with 18 factors to defeat the Tigers, 83-66, setting a brand new SEC report with their seventieth consecutive house win.

Duke Blue Devils<\/a> at Notre Dame Fighting Irish<\/a> (6 p.m., ESPN)<\/strong>
The Blue Devils are fourth within the nation in adjusted defensive effectivity, in line with ESPN Analytics. Notre Dame’s offense ranks eighth. A conflict of strengths highlights what may very well be the sport of the 12 months within the ACC. The chess match of Kara Lawson’s defensive schemes vs. the backcourt explosiveness of Hannah Hidalgo<\/a> and Olivia Miles<\/a> is the sport throughout the recreation. The result means extra to Duke within the convention race, however nationally, it is enormous for the Irish of their quest to get a No. 1 NCAA event seed.

Oklahoma State Cowgirls<\/a> at Utah Utes<\/a> (9 p.m., ESPN+)<\/strong>
This recreation may show to be a separator in a Large 12 that’s bunched up by groups 1 by 6. The highest 4 groups within the convention obtain a double bye within the Large 12 event. Nothing is assured to the winner of this recreation, however the loser could have a troublesome time attending to fourth place within the standings. The Cowgirls and Utes every suffered important personnel turnover within the offseason — Utah even misplaced its coach two weeks into the season when Lynne Roberts took over the Los Angeles Sparks head job — however each have exceeded expectations.

Michigan State Spartans<\/a> at USC Trojans (9:30 p.m., Peacock)<\/strong>
If the Trojans lose to UCLA on Feb. 13, the Spartans may need the chance to overhaul USC within the Large Ten standings. Few folks exterior of East Lansing would have seen that as a risk for late February. Within the first 12 months of convention realignment, USC made 4 journeys to the jap or central time zones and went to Paris to open the season. However they get to place the bags away for a bit, ending with 5 house video games amongst their last six, together with this one, which is Michigan State’s solely west coast journey.

NC State Wolfpack<\/a> at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets<\/a> (7 p.m., ACC Further)<\/strong>
The addition of freshman Dani Carnegie<\/a> has lifted the Yellow Jackets into ACC competition after being picked to complete tenth within the preseason. This recreation marks their final important probability to make a transfer towards a top-four end within the convention and a doable top-four seed within the NCAA event. NC State’s aspirations are larger, with an ACC title probably nonetheless in play. However this recreation marks the center recreation of the Wolfpack’s hardest stretch of the season. A visit to North Carolina is 4 days earlier and a go to from Notre Dame comes three video games after.

North Carolina A&T Aggies<\/a> at William & Mary Tribe<\/a> (7 p.m.)<\/strong>
With simply seven video games on the schedule, that is the lightest night time in February because the stretch run awaits. 5 of the video games are from the CAA, together with this one that includes the Aggies, who’ve led the convention for a month and try to win their first convention title of any form since 2019. They have been within the MEAC then and had a one-year cease within the Large South earlier than touchdown within the CAA. They’re led by the league’s stingiest protection and high scorer Jordyn Dorsey<\/a>.

Iowa State Cyclones<\/a> at Baylor Bears (2:30 p.m., Fox)<\/strong>
Thought of a Large 12 title contender earlier than the season, the Cyclones are actually preventing simply to make the NCAA event. They are going to enter this recreation 0-7 towards Quad 1 opponents. Determined for a high quality win, Iowa State has this recreation and the common season finale towards Kansas State to get one earlier than the Large 12 event. In the meantime, with Kansas State and TCU on the schedule to complete the common season, this recreation may arrange Baylor for a run on the title.

Notre Dame Combating Irish at NC State Wolfpack (midday, ESPN)<\/strong>
Six days after internet hosting Duke, the Irish step into Reynolds Coliseum in what must be a high-energy ambiance. Whatever the outcome towards the Blue Devils, that is the win that might probably seal the ACC common season title for Notre Dame. The matchup of Aziaha James<\/a>, Zoe Brooks<\/a> and Saniya Rivers<\/a> towards Hidalgo, Miles and Sonia Citron<\/a> has an opportunity to be particular. With Georgia Tech and North Carolina proper earlier than this recreation for NC State, at this time’s assembly may very well be key for the Wolfpack’s seed within the ACC event.
Later within the day LSU visits Kentucky, two groups with a legit probability at second place within the SEC, a spot that might keep away from South Carolina till the championship recreation of the SEC event.

Baylor Bears at Kansas State Wildcats<\/a> (7 p.m., ESPN2)<\/strong>
Ok-State middle Ayoka Lee<\/a> has been out since struggling a foot harm on Jan. 19. The Wildcats would like to have her again for this recreation. Baylor’s Aaronette Vonleh<\/a> and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs<\/a> convey dimension Kansas State does not have with out Lee. Whether or not Lee returns, this recreation may nonetheless function a chance for a nationwide viewers to see Serena Sundell<\/a>, the Wildcats’ underrated guard. If Baylor can pull the upset, it throws the Large 12 race up for grabs within the last week.

Texas Tech Lady Raiders<\/a> at Arizona Wildcats<\/a> (8 p.m., ESPN+)<\/strong>
Neither the Woman Raiders nor the Wildcats will likely be within the combine for the Large 12 championship, however Arizona, with massive video games towards Oklahoma State and TCU earlier than this, may very well be in place to push for a fifth straight NCAA event bid with a robust end. It is a recreation Arizona may ill-afford to lose in that pursuit. With simply seven video games on the schedule, that is the lightest night time within the common season’s last week for the Energy 4 conferences.

Michigan State Spartans at Ohio State Buckeyes<\/a> (7 p.m., BIG+)<\/strong>
This concludes the hardest stretch of the season for the Spartans, who will simply be every week faraway from their journey to southern California. In the event that they survive the gauntlet, this recreation towards the Buckeyes may decide whether or not they get a double bye within the Large Ten event. It should even be obligatory if Michigan State aspires to host first- and second-round NCAA event video games. Ohio State has extra wiggle room for a top-four NCAA event seed, however a loss right here and to Maryland within the common season finale can be expensive.

Tennessee Lady Vols<\/a> at Kentucky Wildcats (7 p.m., SEC Community)<\/strong>
How will Amoore maintain up towards the relentlessness of the Tennessee press? The reply may be the important thing to this recreation. It additionally may be the important thing for Amoore’s bid to be SEC participant of the 12 months. The Woman Vols acquired their marquee win towards UConn however are nonetheless in the midst of the pack getting into the stretch run of the SEC. This may be the important thing recreation to Tennessee ending above .500 in league play.
Later that night time, visiting Ole Miss may put South Carolina to the check.
Jewel Spear finds Zee Spearman for the ultimate basket of the sport to steer Tennessee to an 80-76 win over the Huskies, marking its first win towards UConn since 2007.

Princeton Tigers at Harvard Crimson<\/a> (8 p.m., ESPN+)<\/strong>
Ashley Chea<\/a>‘s buzzer-beating jumper gained the primary assembly for the Tigers on Jan. 11, making them the favourite to win a seventh straight Ivy League common season championship on the time. Since then, Columbia has crushed each Princeton and Harvard, boiling the Ivy season right down to the respective rematches with the Lions and this recreation. This recreation will go a protracted method to deciding the championship — and whether or not the Ivy does get two groups within the NCAA event for a second consecutive 12 months.

USC Trojans at UCLA Bruins (9 p.m., Fox)<\/strong>
It is spherical two for the Large Ten’s two greatest groups — this time at Pauley Pavilion. If USC wins the primary matchup, this assembly may very well be for the convention crown. If the Feb. 13 assembly goes to the Bruins, UCLA may very well be taking part in for an unbeaten season and an everyday season title in its first 12 months within the Large Ten. A cut up of the 2 video games between the Bruins and Trojans can be greatest for the convention’s hope of getting two No. 1 seeds. Two losses to UCLA would probably remove USC from competition for the highest line.

Kentucky Wildcats at South Carolina Gamecocks (2 p.m., ESPN)<\/strong>
The Wildcats have proven up thrice on this checklist, accentuating simply how troublesome their last three weeks are. They may very well be anyplace from second to sixth within the SEC heading into this recreation on the common season’s last day. No matter their spot within the standings, profitable in Columbia would give Kentucky an infinite enhance in confidence for the postseason and supply the remainder of the SEC some hope heading into the convention event. The Gamecocks may very well be seeking to wrap up a fourth straight common season SEC title.
Over within the Large Ten, Ohio State and Maryland meet for the second time, with the third seed within the convention event doubtlessly on the road.<\/p>\n

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