The first round of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament continued Saturday with a slate of high-stakes matchups, as teams from across the country battled for a spot in the round of 32. The action began with an early tipoff in the Midwest Region, where the No. 11 seed Cincinnati Bearcats faced off against the No. 6 seed Iowa Hawkeyes. Despite a valiant effort from the Bearcats, Iowa’s depth and experience proved too much, as the Hawkeyes secured a 78-65 victory to advance to the next round. Iowa’s star guard, Emily Johnson, led all scorers with 24 points, including a clutch three-pointer in the final minutes to seal the win.
In the West Region, the No. 10 seed Colorado Buffaloes pulled off a major upset, defeating the No. 7 seed South Carolina Gamecocks 72-68 in a tightly contested game. The Buffaloes, who entered the tournament as underdogs, relied on a balanced offensive attack, with five players finishing in double figures. Colorado’s forward, Maya Davis, recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while point guard Harper Lee dished out nine assists to set the tone for the victory. The win marks the first time in program history that Colorado has advanced past the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Elsewhere, the No. 2 seed Stanford Cardinal and No. 15 seed Howard Bison faced off in a game that quickly turned into a rout. Stanford’s dominance was evident from the opening tip, as the Cardinal raced out to a 30-point halftime lead en route to a 94-52 victory. Stanford’s star post player, Claire Thompson, recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, while guard Ava Martinez added 18 points to further cement the Cardinal’s control over the game. The victory sets up a second-round matchup with the winner of the Minnesota vs. Florida Gulf Coast game.
Saturday’s first-round action also featured a pair of close contests, including a thrilling 69-67 win for the No. 8 seed Oregon State Beavers over the No. 9 seed Oklahoma Sooners. Oregon State’s senior guard, Grace Mitchell, hit the game-winning free throw with just over a second remaining, capping off a dramatic comeback from a 12-point deficit in the second half. The Beavers will now face the No. 1 seed LSU Lady Tigers in the next round.
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