South Dakota State advances; Arkansas State struggles

South Dakota State is celebrating its victory over No. 7 Oklahoma State in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. They won 74-68 on Saturday and will play UConn on Monday night at Gampel Pavilion. Coach Aaron Johnston expressed his gratitude for the team's progress and is eager to face UConn, highlighting the hard work the players have put in. The Jackrabbits, seeded 10th, had strong performances from four players, with Brooklyn Meyer scoring 19 points and Madison Mathiowetz adding 17. Meanwhile, Arkansas State faced a tough game in their NCAA Tournament debut, losing to UConn 103-34. The team struggled with turnovers, committing 12 of their 20 in the first quarter. Destinee Rogers, Arkansas State's coach, commented on her sister Wynter Rogers transferring from West Virginia to join the team. This was a special moment for both sisters, despite the loss. Destinee acknowledged the nerves that affected her players, which contributed to their mistakes in the game. For UConn, both Aubrey Griffin and Caroline Ducharme returned to the court after injuries. Griffin played 10 minutes and had six rebounds, while Ducharme also contributed with six points and four rebounds in 12 minutes. Coach Geno Auriemma noted the importance of getting these players back to full strength as they prepare for their next game.