- USC clinches first regular season conference championship in 31 years
- Trojans face grueling three-game NCAA Tournament prep schedule
- Columbia Lions chase historic triple-double records and Ivy League title
- SEC, ACC, Big 12 tournaments set stage for March Madness selections
The University of Southern California women's basketball program has rewritten its legacy with Saturday's victory over UCLA, securing its first conference crown since 1993. This milestone positions the Trojans as serious contenders heading into the Big Ten tournament, though head coach Lindsay Gottlieb cautions about the unprecedented challenge ahead. Facing three NCAA-caliber opponents in 72 hours tests every aspect of a team's preparation,Gottlieb noted during post-game interviews.
While USC prepares for Friday's quarterfinal matchup, Columbia University makes national headlines with consecutive triple-double performances. Teammates Kitty Henderson and Cecilia Collins achieved this statistical rarity within 24 hours - a feat only matched once in NCAA history. Their 19-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist performances against Ivy League rivals have positioned Columbia for potential back-to-back conference championships.
Conference tournaments across the SEC, ACC, and Big 12 demonstrate the high stakes of championship week. Fifth-ranked South Carolina earned the SEC's top seed through a tiebreaker, while TCU's victory over Baylor secured their Big 12 dominance. These results highlight the growing parity in women's college basketball, with 14 different programs appearing in the AP Top 25 this season.
The NCAA's NET rankings reveal critical insights for selection Sunday, with UConn maintaining its top position despite recent losses. Analysts note USC's sixth-place NET ranking contrasts with their #2 AP poll position, suggesting tournament seeding debates loom. Teams like Indiana and Oregon - potential USC opponents - could leverage strong tournament showings to improve their NCAA seeding positions.
Regional spotlight falls on New York's Columbia Lions as they approach Saturday's regular season finale. A victory against Cornell would secure their first outright Ivy League championship, building on last year's historic tournament appearance. This Northeast program's rise mirrors broader trends of academic institutions investing in women's basketball programs to boost institutional visibility.
With 68% of tournament-bound teams already secured, bubble teams face make-or-break scenarios. Mid-major programs like Drake and UNLV seek signature wins to bolster their tournament resumes, while power conference teams like Mississippi State aim to avoid costly early exits. The NCAA selection committee will weigh these results against quality win metrics and strength-of-schedule calculations.
