Chiney more than 'Nneka's litle sis'

Michelle Smith (espnW) has written a great story in praise of Chiney, who, "... is a star in her own right, bursting out of the shadow of her All-America sibling this season, making the previously unthinkable argument that perhaps someone not named Brittney Griner could be in the conversation for national player of the year in college women's basketball."

Read more...

The road to New Orleans begins at Maples

Here is how the teams that will play rounds 1 and 2 at Maples match up statistically:

	Stanford	Tulsa	Michigan	Villanova
Points per game	70.7	63.6	60.8	59.5
Scoring margin	+18.8	+1.9	+5.8	+7.3
Field goal %	0.453	0.386	0.436	0.397
3-pointers per game	5.0	4.8	6.2	8.3
3-point %	0.311	0.309	0.347	0.331
Free throw %	0.719	0.656	0.728	0.691
Rebounds per game	42.6	39.1	34.9	34.1
Rebounding margin	+7.4	-1.0	+3.2	-3.7
Assists per game	14.1	12.2	13.9	16.0
Turnovers per game	12.0	16.2	13.9	10.6
Assist/turnover ratio	1.18	0.76	1.00	1.50
Steals per game	6.1	9.5	6.2	7.2
Blocks per game	5.3	2.3	3.2	4.0
Win-loss record	31-2, 17-1	17-6, 8-8	21-10, 9-7	21-10, 9-7
RPI	3	94	35	28
Schedule strength	5	51	30	24

Michigan and Villanova will meet for the first time in the other game at Maples. Doug Feinberg, AP sports writer, predicts a win for Villanova, "Kim Barnes Arico knows all about Harry Perretta's system, having spent years coaching at St. John's. Her new team just doesn't have enough offensive weapons to beat the Wildcats."

  Tulsa Golden Hurricane

The Golden Hurricane finished with an 8-8 conference record, tied for fifth in Conference USA (C-USA) behind SMU, Tulane, East Carolina and UAB. They won four games in four days at the conference tournament and earned their automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

This will be the first meeting ever between the Cardinal and the Golden Hurricane.

It will be the Golden Hurricane's second appearance at the NCAA Tournament. They made their first appearance in 2006 as a #12 seed, also as C-USA's automatic qualifier. They upset North Carolina State in the first round and lost to DePaul in the second round.

The Golden Hurricane is coached by Matilda Mossman, in her second season at Tulsa.

The Golden Hurricane is led by senior guard Taleya Mayberry with 18.7 points per game and a team-high 116 assists and 76 steals. Freshman guard Kelsee Grovey nets 10.5 points per game; senior forward Tiffani Couisnard averages 8.5 points per game, a team-best 9.1 rebounds per game and has a team-leading 37 blocks; and junior forward Loren McDaniel adds 6.8 rebounds per game.

Here are Tulsa's 2012-2013 statistics, roster and game notes.

  Michigan Wolverines

The Cardinal and the Wolverines have played each other a couple of times, but not since 2000.

The Wolverines finished fifth in the Big Ten this season behind Penn State, Nebraska, Michigan State and Purdue. They lost to Michigan State in the quarter-finals of the Big Ten Tournament.

Their best wins this season came back-to-back in early February against No. 13 Purdue and Michigan State.

This will be the Wolverines' second consecutive and sixth overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament. They advanced to the second round in 1990 and 2001. Last season, they lost to Oklahoma in the opening round.

The Wolverines are coached by Kim Barnes Arico, in her first season at Michigan. She came to Michigan from St.John's, who she guided to the NCAA tournament in the previous three years.

The Wolverines are led by the second-most prolific three-pointer shooter in the nation — senior guard Kate Thompson who makes 3.45 per game at a rate of 39%. She averages 14.5 ppg and has scored in double digits 23 times.

Thompson is joined by two other double-digit scorers — senior center/forward Rachel Sheffer (12.7 ppg) and senior guard Jenny Ryan (10.1 ppg).

Here are Michigan's 2012-2013 statistics, roster and game notes.

  Villanova Wildcats

The Cardinal and the Wildcats have never played each other.

The Wildcats finished in a three-way tie for sixth in the Big East this season behind Notre Dame, UConn, Syracuse, Louisville and St. John's. They lost to Syracuse in the quarter-finals of the Big East Tournament.

Their best wins this season were over Princeton, DePaul, Syracuse (No. 22).

This is the Wildcats' tenth at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Their most recent appearance was five years ago.

The Wildcats are coached by Harry Perretta, who is in his 35th year at Villanova.

The Wildcats are noted for their slow offensive tempo. Coach Perretta believes the game clock can be your friend.

Although they rank seventh in the nation in three-pointers per game (8.3), they average only 58.7 points per game. Their emphasis is on defense. They've held opponents to 36% field goal accuracy and only 51.8 points on average.

The Wildcats are also a very disciplined team. They commit the fewest turnovers in the nation (10.6 per game) and have the second-best assist/turnover ratio (1.5).

The Wildcats are led by fifth-year senior forward Laura Sweeney who leads the team in five statistical categories — scoring (13.9 ppg.), rebounding (6.9 rpg.), field goal percentage (.520), steals (71) and blocks (59). She missed the Big East tournament loss to Syracuse with a concussion but is expected back for the NCAAs.

Senior guard Rachel Roberts ranks second on the team in scoring (11.0 ppg) and three-pointers (2.1 per game).

Here are Villanova's 2012-2013 statistics and roster .

Mikaela, the Energizer

Mikaela has earned a well-deserved shout-out from Kelli Anderson in this Sports Illustrated story: Special Forces.

Chiney named WBCA All-America nominee

The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today the All-Region nominees for the 2013 Division I Coaches' All-America Team. Chiney is one of four nominees from Region 8.

For more details, see:

The WBCA announcement

The Stanford Athletic announcement

Here is lots more about Chiney:

Ogwumike National Player of the Year Infographic
(Click here for original, larger version.)

Chiney Ogwumike #13 "Baller"

The Tinkles go dancing

It was a crazy week for the Tinkle family, who had four basketball championships in 48 hours.

Click here for a story by Donna Ditota (Syracuse Post-Standard).

The road to New Orleans

The Cardinal will set off on the road to New Orleans as the #1 seed in the Spokane region.

Their first-round game is at home in Maples Pavilion against #16 Tulsa on Sunday, March 24 at 2:20 pm. You can buy tickets online now from the Stanford ticket office.

If  they win that game (one game at a time!), their second-round game is against either #8 Villanova or #9 Michigan on Tuesday, March 26 at 6:30 pm.

If  they win that game, their next game(s) will be in Spokane at the Veterans Memorial Arena. You'll be able to buy tickets from the Stanford ticket office on Wednesday, March 27.

If  the seedings hold true, they'll play #4 Georgia in the Sweet Sixteen on Saturday, March 30.

If  they win that game and the seedings hold true, they'll play #2 California in the Elite Eight on Monday, April 1.

If  the seedings hold true, the Final Four in New Orleans at the New Orleans Arena will be Baylor vs Stanford and Notre Dame vs UConn.

Cal was selected as the #2 seed in the Spokane Region! Their first game is at Texas Tech in Lubbock against #15 Fresno State.

UCLA was selected as the #3 seed in the Oklahoma City Region. Their first game is at Ohio State in Columbus against #14 Stetson.

Colorado was selected as the #5 seed in the Norfolk Region. Their first game is at home in Boulder against #12 Kansas.

Here is the bracket.

Chiney named to Wooden Award final ballot

The Los Angeles Athletic Club has announced that Chiney is one of the 15 women named to the John R. Wooden Award final ballot

For more information about Chiney and the award, see:

• The Stanford Athletics announcement
• Los Angeles Athletic Club announcement

The trophy presentation

Game over! Stanford wins!!

The winners assemble for the trophy presentation

Amber receives her All-Tourney Team Trophy

Chiney receives her Most Outstanding Player Trophy

Tara receives the Championship Trophy

And the confetti explodes

The winners with their trophies

The seniors with the championship trophy

Amber with her trophy

CLICK HERE for a story & video about the trophies

Cardinal triumphs at the end

... at the very end, as Amber drove to the basket through two Bruin defenders and lifted in a layup that put the Cardinal ahead 51-49 with 8.3 seconds left to play.

The Bruins missed a jumper and a putback at the other end of the court, and Stanford notched its seventh-straight Pac-12 Tournament championship.

The evening began very well for the Cardinal with an 11-0 run in the first eight minutes of the game. The lead dwindled as the Cardinal succumbed to the Bruins' inside strength, and the Bruins took the lead just before the end of the first half.

The Cardinal fell behind by as much as seven points in the second half.The score was tied for the fifth time with 36 seconds left to play. Then Amber took possession, drove to the basket and saved the day.

The Bruins did what no one else has come close to doing all season — shut down Chiney. She couldn't break through the Bruins' strong double- and triple-teams and finished with only three points (her prior low this season was 18) and no assists.

But the Bruins couldn't stop Amber, who scored a career-high total of 20 points, or Bonnie, who sank three of five from beyond the arc, nor did they cope well with the Cardinal defense, which held them to just under 28% shooting.

Amber was voted onto the all-tournament team along with UCLA’s Alyssia Brewer and Markel Walker, Washington’s Jazmine Davis and Colorado’s Chucky Jeffery. Chiney was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in recognition of her tournament-record double-doubles in the prior two rounds of play.

Here are game reports and commentary:

• Stanford Takes Down No. 14 UCLA For Pac-12 Title, 51-49 from the Associated Press
• What. A. Finish. by Sarah Kezele (Pac-12)
• Orrange's career day helps Stanford edge UCLA for Pac-12 championship by Jayda Evans (Seattle Times)
• Stanford women edge UCLA in Pac-12 final by Tom FitzGerald (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Stanford women rally to Pac-12 title by Elliott Almond (Mercury News)
• Orrange enjoys a fruitful finish in Pac-12 championship game from Palo Alto Online
• Orrange comes through for Cardinal by Michelle Smith (espnW)

The box score and play-by-play,

The press conference video with Tara, Amber and Chiney,

A game highlights video from the Pac-12,

A game highlights video from Stanford Athletics,

A gallery of photos by Elaine Thompson (Associated Press),

A gallery of photos by Dave Cortesi, mostly of the pregame team sendoff and the postgame celebration.

Pac-12 tourney finds home at Key Arena

Michelle Smith (espnW) reports:

Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott is in the Emerald City this week, observing the new setting for his postseason women’s basketball tournament. He likes what he sees ...

Click here for the story.

Here is snother report on the same topic from the Seattle Times: Larry Scott says Pac-12 women's tournament could have a permanent spot in Seattle