Virginia edges Arizona State in NCAA tournament First Four Kymora Johnson scored 17 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 30.6 seconds remaining, as Virginia defeated Arizona State 57-55 in the NCAA tournament First Four on Thursday night. The Cavaliers, seeded 10th, advanced to face seventh-seeded Georgia in the next round, marking their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2018 under head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton. Johnson’s clutch 3-pointer, Virginia’s first of the second half in 10 attempts, gave the Cavaliers a 54-51 lead. With 5.3 seconds left, Johnson added a free throw to seal the victory. Arizona State’s Jyah LoVett lost control of the ball in the paint as the clock expired, ending the game. Johnson also recorded 10 rebounds for her ninth career double-double. Caitlin Weimar contributed 11 points off the bench, and Romi Levy added 10. Arizona State, seeded 10th, saw Marley Washenitz score 19 points on five 3-pointers, while McKinna Brackens and Heloisa Carrera each tallied 10 points. Gabby Elliott, Arizona State’s leading scorer, made just three of 13 field goals, finishing with 11 points and nine rebounds. The Sun Devils, making their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2019, were coached by first-year head coach Molly Miller. The game saw Arizona State trail by as many as 10 points in the second half before rallying. Elliott’s jumper cut the deficit to 48-46 with 3:18 remaining, but Virginia’s defense held firm. The loss ended Arizona State’s season, while Virginia advanced to the next round, continuing its resurgence under Agugua-Hamilton.#virginia #arizona_state #kymora_johnson #amaka_agugua_hamilton #molly_miller
Pair of Double-Doubles Power Virginia to First Four Victory The 10th-seeded Virginia women’s basketball team (20-11) secured its first NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament victory since 2018 with a 57-55 win over 10th-seeded Arizona State (24-11) on Thursday night (March 19) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Cavaliers advanced to face seventh-seeded Georgia (22-9) in the next round on Saturday (March 21) at the same venue, with the game set for 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Kymora Johnson led Virginia with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, while Caitlin Weimar added 11 points and 12 rebounds off the bench. The game’s momentum shifted in the first quarter as Virginia surged ahead with a 7-0 run late in the period, taking a seven-point lead. The Cavaliers entered the second quarter with a 19-14 advantage after shooting 7-for-13 from the field in the opening 10 minutes. Both teams struggled offensively in the second quarter, with Virginia hitting just 26% of their shots and Arizona State managing only 14%. Virginia extended its lead to nine points by halftime, outscoring the Sun Devils 10-2 in the frame. The Cavaliers held Arizona State without a basket on their final seven attempts of the half, maintaining a 30-22 lead at the break. Arizona State responded with a 50% shooting performance in the third quarter but was limited to just eight field-goal attempts as Virginia forced six turnovers. The Sun Devils cut the deficit to four points by the start of the fourth quarter, trailing 40-36. After trailing by eight points with 4:28 remaining, Arizona State launched a late rally, capped by a 3-pointer with 41 seconds left to tie the game at 51-51. Kymora Johnson answered with a clutch 3-pointer moments later, giving Virginia a 57-55 lead.#arizona_state #carver_hawkeye_arena #kymora_johnson #caitlin_weimar #amaka_agugua_hamilton
March Madness live updates, scores, bracket: Women's NCAA tournament First Four wraps up with Virginia and Southern advancing The final two First Four matchups in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament concluded on Thursday, securing the 64-team field for the upcoming tournament. In the Sacramento 4 region, Southern University and Samford faced off for the No. 16 seed, while Virginia and Arizona State contested for the No. 10 seed. The results of these games determined the final spots in the first-round bracket. Virginia advanced to face No. 7 seed Georgia after a hard-fought 57-55 victory over Arizona State. The Cavaliers overcame a late rally by the Sun Devils, who tied the game at 51-51 on a 3-pointer by Marley Washenitz with 41 seconds remaining. Kymora Johnson answered with a 3-pointer for Virginia, and the Cavaliers held off Arizona State’s attempts to tie the game. Washenitz led Arizona State with 19 points, while Johnson dominated for Virginia with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals. Caitlin Weimar added 11 points and 12 rebounds for Virginia. Southern University secured its spot in the tournament with a 65-53 win over Samford. The Jaguars will face No. 1 seed South Carolina on Saturday. Southern took control in the fourth quarter, outscoring Samford 14-2 over the final seven minutes. Jaylia Reed and DeMya Porter each scored 15 points for Southern, with Porter grabbing 12 rebounds. Briana Rivera led Samford with 16 points, though the Bulldogs shot 36% from the field, including 8-of-27 on 3-pointers. Other developments from the First Four included No. 16 Missouri State and No. 11 Nebraska advancing to the 64-team field. Missouri State will face No. 1 seed Texas, while Nebraska will meet No. 6 seed Baylor.#virginia #arizona_state #samford #southern_university #ncaa_womens_basketball_tournament
Arizona State Sources Say Bobby Hurley's Departure News Is Premature Arizona State Sun Devils basketball coach Bobby Hurley's potential exit from the program has been labeled "premature" by school officials, despite widespread reports suggesting he may not return for a 12th season. The news came just days before the start of the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament, with Hurley’s future remaining uncertain as he nears the end of his contract. The school has not offered an extension, leaving his status in limbo for the 2025-26 season. While the decision to move on is often a signal of impending change, ASU sources emphasized that the timing of the speculation was premature. Hurley’s team is set to face Baylor in the tournament’s first round on March 10, with the game scheduled for 9:30 a.m. MST at T-Mobile Center. The Sun Devils, with a 16-15 record, finished their regular season last week, including a notable upset over No. 14 Kansas on March 3, which was widely considered Hurley’s final home game as head coach. The school could be waiting for the team’s tournament performance before making an official announcement, as the elimination of the squad might influence the timing of any decision. Hurley, 54, joined Arizona State in 2015, succeeding Herb Sendek as head coach and becoming the university’s 14th in that role. Prior to ASU, he led the University at Buffalo for two seasons, compiling a 42-20 record (67.7%). At Arizona State, his overall record stands at 184-166, but the past three years have been his most challenging tenure. The Sun Devils have posted a 43-53 record in that span, with a 19-39 mark in conference play.#t_mobile_center #arizona_state #bobby_hurley #big_12_men_s_basketball_tournament #university_at_buffalo
Bobby Hurley will not return as Arizona State men’s basketball coach after completing his 11th season with the Sun Devils. The Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman reported the news Monday, citing that Hurley’s contract, set to expire at the end of June, will not be renewed. On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed the report, though Hurley and ASU athletic director Graham Rossini plan to meet after the Big 12 Tournament to discuss their future. ASU’s season ended with a 16-15 record overall and a 7-11 mark in the Big 12. The team’s final game of the regular season was a 9-2 start for Hurley, followed by a 9-11 stretch that dashed NCAA Tournament hopes. A late surge included three wins in four games, including an upset over then-No. 13 Texas Tech, but two losses to Baylor and TCU sealed their fate. Despite the struggles, the Sun Devils remain in the Big 12 Tournament, set to face Baylor in a matchup starting at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Hurley’s tenure at ASU has been marked by both success and challenges. His overall record of 184-166 (.526) ranks second in program history, behind Ned Wulk’s 405-257 record from 1958 to 1982. Under Hurley, ASU made three NCAA Tournament appearances but never advanced past the first round. The highlight of his career at the school came in 2017-18, when the “Guard U” team led by Tra Holder, Kodi Justice, and Shannon Evans started 12-0, including wins over No. 2 Kansas and No. 15 Xavier. The team reached No. 3 in the AP Top 25 rankings but fell short in the postseason, losing four of its last five regular-season games and a First Four matchup against Syracuse. Hurley’s recent seasons have seen mixed results. After reaching 20 wins in consecutive years, the team’s momentum was disrupted by the pandemic, which canceled a likely NCAA Tournament bid.#big_12_tournament #bobby_hurley #arizona_state #graham_rossini #field_of_68
