UConn's Geno Auriemma: Most Coaches Are 'Afraid of Their Players'
Apr 2, 2019
COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 30: Head coach Geno Auriemma of the Connecticut Huskies reacts against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half in the semifinals of the 2018 NCAA Women's Final Four at Nationwide Arena on March 30, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Connecticut Huskies women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma offered his thoughts Tuesday on what he believes to be an imbalanced dynamic between coaches and their players.
Auriemma told reporters that coaches face a higher level of scrutiny and suffer more consequences for their missteps than players do, per espnW.com's Mechelle Voepel:
"The majority of coaches in America are afraid of their players. The NCAA, the athletic directors and society has made them afraid of their players. Every article you read: 'This guy's a bully. This woman's a bully. This guy went over the line. This woman was inappropriate.' Yet the players get off scot-free in everything. They can do whatever they want. They don't like something you say to them, they transfer. Coaches, they have to coach with one hand behind their back. Why? Because some people have abused the role of a coach."
Auriemma's comments come after multiple head coaches have been the subject of allegations centered around abusing players.
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets announced March 26 that they fired women's basketball head coach MaChelle Joseph after hiring an outside firm to investigate "concerns about player and staff mistreatment by Joseph." Players interviewed called the atmosphere "toxic," "suffocating," "unhealthy" and "hostile" under Joseph's watch, according to the investigation.
Joseph's attorney called the allegations "manufactured" in a statement to theAtlanta Journal-Constitution'sKen Sugiura, who reported Joseph alleges "she actually was fired as the result of an unlawful campaign of retaliation for the coach's efforts to advocate for gender equity in the Tech athletic department."
Last month, Northern Kentucky Norse guard Taryn Taugherwrote a poston Odyssey detailing alleged emotional abuse she and her teammates suffered under head coach Camryn Whitaker. Taugher said in one instance, Whitaker deliberately isolated one player from the team and reprimanded anybody who interacted with her.
Meanwhile, the University of North Carolina placed the entire women's basketball coaching staff on paid leave Monday so a local law firm can examine "issues raised by student-athletes and others" related to the student-athlete experience, perESPN.com.
Auriemma and the Huskies are preparing for their record 12th straight Final Four. Connecticut lost in the national semifinals in each of the last two seasons. The Huskies meet Notre Dame for the second consecutive year on Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET in Tampa, Florida.
Women's Tournament 2019: Schedule, Bracket Ahead of Final Four
Apr 2, 2019
Most years, the NCAA tournament for women's college basketball is dominated by top seeds. This season is no different.
Two No. 1 seeds and two No. 2s will be playing in the national semifinals on Friday at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. No team has more than four losses this season, and the four schools combined have only 10 total defeats.
These matchups should provide some of the best games of the season.
Baylor, the No. 1 overall seed, is a two-time national champion, as it won titles in 2005 and 2012. However, the Bears are in the Final Four for the first time since winning that championship in 2012.
Notre Dame is the defending champion after winning its second title in program history last season. The Fighting Irish are in the Final Four for the seventh time since 2011.
UConn has dominated women's college basketball for much of the past decade. The Huskies have won six national titles since 2009, including four straight from 2013-16, and this will be their 12th straight Final Four appearance.
"It's not normal. It's something that's hard to describe because even if you're writing a book and making it up, people would say it doesn't happen in real life," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said, per Doug Feinberg of the Associate Press. "It has happened in real life. I'm still boggled, my mind doesn't get how it can happen this many years in a row with a different cast of characters that change so often. No, it's not normal, it's not normal."
Oregon is making its first Final Four appearance in program history. However, the Ducks have made it to the Elite Eight three consecutive seasons.
Heading into the Final Four, it's possible to see any of the remaining teams winning the national title.
Baylor has been dominant in the NCAA tournament, winning each of its four games by at least 25 points. But the Bears' goal remains one thing.
"I have said this from day one," Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said, according to ESPN.com, "it's all about championships."
Notre Dame only beat Texas A&M by seven points in the Sweet 16, but it won each of its other three games by at least 16 points. The Fighting Irish overcame a slow start against Stanford in the Elite Eight to win 84-68.
"They kept their composure," Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said, per the Associated Press' Andrew Seligman.
The Fighting Irish will need more of that if they hope to win in the Final Four against UConn, especially after losing to the Huskies 89-71 back on Dec. 2.
Oregon and UConn played competitive games in the previous round, as each knocked off a No. 1 seed. The Ducks beat Mississippi State 88-84, while the Huskies notched an 80-73 win over Louisville.
Prediction: Baylor and UConn advance to the national championship game, with the Bears winning to complete their one-loss season
NCAA Women's Basketball Bracket 2019: Championship Odds for Final Four
Apr 2, 2019
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 27: Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the Oregon Ducks looks for an opportunity against Mai-Loni Henson #3 of the Washington Huskies at the Alaska Airlines Arena on January 27, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Three of the most consistent women's basketball programs in the nation and a newcomer to the sport's biggest stage advanced to the 2019 Women's Final Four.
UConn is back at the Final Four, which takes place in Tampa this year, for the 12th consecutive season, but the Huskies haven't won a title since 2016.
Notre Dame is making its second straight trip to Final Four, as it looks to conjure up the same late-game magic it used to win the 2018 title.
Baylor is back at the Final Four for the first time since it won the championship in 2012, while Oregon is making its first-ever appearance.
2019 Women's Final Four Schedule
Friday, April 5
No. 1 Baylor (-4.5) vs. No. 2 Oregon (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
No. 1 Notre Dame (-2.5) vs. No. 2 UConn (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
The marquee game of the women's Final Four is the second one on the schedule, as old rivals UConn and Notre Dame face off for the 50th time.
Although UConn has a significant edge in the rivalry, Notre Dame has had the Huskies' number in the NCAA tournament.
According to ESPN Stats and Info, Notre Dame is the only school to beat UConn more than twice in the NCAA tournament:
Notre Dame moves on to play UConn. ND is only school to beat UConn more than twice in the NCAA Tournament (4-3 all-time).
UConn and ND have met 7 times in the NCAA Tournament, all in Final Four or National Championship, the most common matchup in women's Final Four/Championship. pic.twitter.com/iM2wpQrtqQ
Muffet McGraw's Fighting Irish are the favored team as the defending champion, and they have a pair of guards in Arike Ogunbowale and Jackie Young that wreak havoc on any opposing defense.
Expect to hear a lot from Notre Dame's guards as they get to the basket in a hurry to spearhead the nation's top scoring offense.
The Fighting Irish are averaging 88.5 points per game in the NCAA tournament, and they only gave up 80 points once.
However, UConn possesses a similar explosiveness on offense, as it comes into Tampa with the fourth-best scoring offense in Division 1.
The Huskies reached the 80-point mark in three of their four tournament games, with the lone exception being the Sweet 16 win over UCLA.
Katie Lou Samuelson is the key on offense for UConn, as she comes into Tampa off a 29-point performance against Louisville.
But if Samuelson struggles as she did against UCLA, and the Huskies can't keep pace with Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish will get to defend their title in Sunday's national championship.
Ionescu Gets Opportunity to Shine on Final Four Stage
Triple-double machine Sabrina Ionescu gets her chance to shine on the sport's biggest stage Friday night, as she leads the Oregon Ducks into a semifinal matchup against Baylor.
Ionescu was one of the main reasons why the Ducks got past perennial power Mississippi State in the Elite Eight, as she produced 31 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
In order for the Ducks to upset Baylor in Friday's opener, Ionescu once again has to be at her best, as she has been all season.
Ionescu has a triple-double and a double-double so far in the NCAA tournament, and it wouldn't be a surprise if she takes her game to another level with a standout performance against the top-seeded Bears.
The key for Oregon is to stay close with Baylor, who has blown out each of its four opponents in the Big Dance.
Since the Bears come into Friday with most of the pressure on their shoulders, Ionescu and the Ducks should be able to play free and challenge Kim Mulkey's team on every possession.
Ionescu will be in the spotlight, but she isn't the only Oregon player capable of doing damage on offense, as Ruthy Hebard and Satou Sabally have been key contributors throughout the tournament.
If Oregon puts the pressure on Baylor from the start, it could be able to spring an upset and become the first Pac-12 team since Stanford in 2010 to make the national championship.
NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament 2019: Elite 8 Scores, Final Four Bracket
Apr 1, 2019
Iowa's Amanda Ollinger, center, is tied up by Baylor's Lauren Cox, right, and Kalani Brown, left, during the first half of a regional final women's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Monday, April 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
The Final Four for the 2019 NCAA women's basketball tournament is set with the conclusion of the Elite Eight on Monday.
The UConn Huskies and Oregon Ducks are already through to the national semifinals, two teams at opposite ends of the spectrum historically speaking. UConn is through to the Final Four for the 12th consecutive year, while Oregon is making its first trip.
In Monday's first game, the second-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes were matched up with the No. 1 overall seed Baylor Lady Bears. The reigning national champion Notre Dame Fighting Irish and No. 2 Stanford Cardinal would close the curtain on the regional finals.
Here are the scores from Monday and a recap of the action.
The full bracket for the 2019 women's NCAA tournament can be viewed at NCAA.com.
No. 1 Baylor 85, No. 2 Iowa 53
Megan Gustafson has been excellent throughout the 2018-19 regular season and into the NCAA tournament. The Hawkeyes star needed to be superhuman for her team to have any shot of upsetting Baylor.
The Lady Bears rolled over the Hawkeyes 85-53, with Baylor's depth and defense simply overwhelming Iowa.
Gustafson had 23 points and nine rebounds and hit a significant benchmark in the second half. She reached 1,000 points for the season, joining Kelsey Plum, Odyssey Sims and Jackie Stiles as the only players to reach that mark.
Only the fourth player in DI Women's Basketball history to hit over 1,000 points in one season.
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) April 2, 2019
Gustafson was the outlier for Iowa. The Lady Bears were content to let the senior forward enjoy success inside while stifling her supporting cast. The Hawkeyes shot 32.1 percent from the field and committed 16 turnovers.
The Iowa defense didn't have much of an answer for Baylor's efficient post-centric offense, either. Lauren Cox had a team-high 22 points, adding 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks to a great all-around night. DiDi Richards (16 points, 10 rebounds) had a double-double as well.
Together, Cox and Richards nearly out-rebounded Iowa on their own, with the Hawkeyes collecting 26 boards.
Baylor has won its four tournament games by an average of 38.3 points. The Lady Bears are firing on all cylinders, which is bad news for Oregon.
No. 1 Notre Dame 84, No. 2 Stanford 68
Winning ugly was Stanford's approach in the last two rounds, and the strategy was working for the Cardinal through the first half Monday. They led Notre Dame 33-26 heading into the locker room, with the Fighting Irish well below the 89.2-point-per-game pace they've set this season.
The plan unraveled in the third quarter. Notre Dame closed the quarter on an 11-2 run and outscored Stanford 26-13 over the 10-minute period. The Fighting Irish continued to pour it on in the fourth, scoring 32 points and putting the game out of reach.
Jackie Young was a big reason for Notre Dame's second-half turnaround. Nineteen of her 25 points came after halftime.
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) April 2, 2019
Young also grabbed 10 rebounds to earn her 11th double-double of the season. Jessica Shepard also had her third double-double (11 points, 14 rebounds) of the tournament. Arike Ogunbowale, last year's Final Four hero, didn't have an efficient night, shooting 6-of-19 from the floor. She still finished with 21 points and helped to provide an offensive spark in the third and fourth quarters.
The stage is now set for a rematch between Notre Dame and Connecticut. The two teams delivered an instant classic in last year's semifinals, and this year will likely be no different.
UConn Makes Record 12th Straight Women's Final Four in Win vs. Louisville
Mar 31, 2019
Connecticut players and Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, far right, celebrate with their trophy after winning the regional championship game in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2019, in Albany, N.Y. UConn defeated Louisville 80-73 to advance to the Final Four. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
The Connecticut Huskies' steak of consecutive Final Four appearances is almost a teenager by now.
The second-seeded Huskies beat the No. 1 Louisville Cardinals 80-73 in the 2019 NCAA women's basketball tournament, thus punching their ticket to the national semifinals for the 12th year in a row.
Connecticut set the Division I record for most consecutive Final Fours in 2017-18, toppling a mark set by the UCLA Bruins during the John Wooden era.
"I don't think it's supposed to happen," UConn head coach GenoAuriemmasaid of the record, per the Associated Press (viaESPN.com). "Not in today's world the way things change and teams keep getting better and better. It's not normal. It's something that's hard to describe because even if you're writing a book and making it up, people would say it doesn't happen in real life."
Sunday's win wasn't without some drama. Louisville went on a 10-1 run late in the fourth quarter to make it a two-point game, 75-73, inside the final 30 seconds. Katie Lou Samuelson andNapheesaCollier each hit two free throws to create a little more distance on the Cardinals, and that proved to be enough for the Huskies.
Samuelson was the game's leading scorer (29 points), and Collier posted a double-double (12 points, 13 rebounds). They're looking to atone for the team's back-to-back semifinal exits.
Regardless of what UConn does in this year's Final Four, many will expect the Huskies to return in 2020. Samuelson and Collier are the only two seniors on the team.
Heading into this year,Auriemmahad to replace three players who were first-roundWNBAdraft picks (Gabby Williams,AzuraStevens andKiaNurse). Despite that, UConn is once again two games away from a 12th national title.
In Crystal Dangerfield, Megan Walker andChristynWilliams,Auriemmahas three players who will be ready to take over for Samuelson and Collier when they move on to the next level.
NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament 2019: UConn Upsets Louisville in Elite 8 Play
Mar 31, 2019
Connecticut guard Katie Lou Samuelson (33) knocks the ball from Louisville forward Sam Fuehring, center, and Louisville forward Bionca Dunham (33) during the first half of a regional championship final in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2019, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
The 2019 NCAA women's basketball tournament moved on to Elite Eight play Sunday, with two teams set to earn a place in the Final Four.
The No. 2 Connecticut Huskies and No. 1 Louisville Cardinals got things underway, with the No. 2 Oregon Ducks and No. 1 Mississippi State Bulldogs bringing the action to a close.
In both cases, the lower-seeded teams could rely on something of a home-court advantage. UConn and Louisville tipped off in Albany, New York, while Oregon only had to travel a few hours north to Portland from Eugene.
Here are the Sunday's Elite Eight scores and an overview of how the games unfolded.
Samuelson then sank two free throws at the 1:47 mark to make it an 11-point game. The Cardinals then embarked on a 10-1 run, however, with Arica Carter's layup trimming the deficit to two points.
Louisville nearly forced a turnover on Connecticut's next possession. The Cardinals trapped Samuelson immediately after the inbound near half court, and she was inches away from a backcourt violation before Bionca Dunham committed a foul.
Samuelson gave the Huskies some breathing room, increasing their advantage to four points.
Napheesa Collier fouled Asia Durr at the other end of the court to send the Cardinals star to the charity stripe. Durr is an 82.9 percent free-throw shooter but finished 6-of-10 from the line Sunday. Two of those misses came with 20 seconds remaining.
Sam Fuehring collected Durr's second miss, but Megan Walker blocked her putback attempt at the rim. Collier recovered the rebound, effectively ending Louisville's comeback.
Samuelson led all scorers with 29 points, while both Collier (12 points, 13 rebounds) and Walker (13 points, 12 rebounds) earned double-doubles.
Durr led Louisville with 21 points and narrowly missed out on a double-double of her own, grabbing nine rebounds. The senior guard did struggle to cope with all of the attention she received from the UConn defense, shooting 7-of-19 from the field and 1-of-6 from beyond the arc.
Many were surprised when the selection committee made Connecticut a No. 2 seed in the Albany Region. The perceived slight might have been a blessing in disguise for the Huskies, who have clearly carried a chip on their shoulder.
Now, UConn is two games away from a 12th national title.
No. 2 Oregon 88, No. 1 Mississippi State 84
This was the third straight Elite Eight appearance for Oregon, which fell just short of making the Final Four in 2017 and 2018. Considering she's eligible for the 2019 WNBA draft, this tournament was likely Sabrina Ionescu's last shot at reaching the national semifinals.
If this is indeed her final year with the Ducks, Ionescu is going out in style. She had 31 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in an 88-84 win over Mississippi State.
The Naismith Trophy finalist rose to the occasion in the fourth quarter, hitting clutch shot after clutch shot. Every time Mississippi State thought it was clawing away at the deficit late in the game, Ionescu responded with a back-breaking jumper.
Andra Espinoza-Hunter connected on a three-pointer for the Bulldogs to make it a four-point game, 86-82, with 13 seconds remaining. Yet there was Ionescu again to hit two free throws to all but lock up the win for Oregon.
Satou Sabally scored 22 points and collected seven rebounds, and Ruthy Hebard had 14 points and five boards. Neither Sabally nor Hebard could match up physically with the 6'7" Teaira McCowan. Instead, they used their speed and scoring range to draw McCowan away from the basket. Oregon succeeded in forcing McCowan to switch on pick-and-rolls as well.
The Bulldogs center still finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks. She appeared to fade as the game went on, though, considering she had 12 points and 10 boards by halftime.
Oregon awaits the winner of the Baylor Lady Bears' matchup with the Iowa Hawkeyes. Regardless of the Ducks' opponent, their ability to slow down an elite post player bodes well since both Baylor (Kalani Brown) and Iowa (Megan Gustafson) turn to skilled frontcourt stars as big parts of their respective offenses.
UCLA guard Ahlana Smith (2) defends against Connecticut guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) during the first half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2019, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
The 2019 NCAA women's basketball tournament resumed play Friday with four Sweet 16 games split between Albany, New York, and Portland, Oregon.
Sabrina Ionescu and the No. 2 Oregon Ducks faced off with the No. 6 South Dakota State Jackrabbits in the final matchup. The No. 2 Connecticut Huskies opened the action with the No. 6 UCLA Bruins in another notable clash.
Here's a look at Friday's scores and a recap of how the night unfolded.
No. 1 Mississippi State def. No. 5 Arizona State, 76-53
No. 1 Louisville def. No. 4 Oregon State, 61-44
No. 2 Oregon def. No. 6 South Dakota State, 63-53
Bracket
The full bracket for the 2019 women's NCAA tournament can be viewed at NCAA.com.
Connecticut 69, UCLA 61
When teams roll through most of their opponents during the regular season, it's unclear how players will react to adversity in the NCAA tournament.
For the second round in a row, Connecticut withstood a tough challenge and advanced. The Huskies trailed the Bruins 50-49 entering the fourth quarter but walked away with a 69-61 victory.
There have been some teams that have had "almost" upsets against @UConnWBB over the years, but getting the job done is really hard. This is where the Huskies' discipline really serves them well. They won't panic in the fourth quarter. UConn now leads 55-52 with 7:39 left.
After a scoreless first half, Crystal Dangerfield finished with 15 points, 11 of which came in the final 10 minutes.
Kennedy Burke hit two free throws to bring UCLA within three points at the 7:39 mark of the fourth quarter, but Dangerfield hit a three-pointer on UConn's next possession to give the Huskies some breathing room.
The Bruins never closed the gap to fewer than six points over the remainder of the game.
To the surprise of many inside the Huskies program, Napheesa Collier wasn't among the finalists for this year's Naismith Trophy. The senior guard has seemingly carried a chip on her shoulder throughout the tournament as a result and was excellent against UCLA.
Collier had a game-high 25 points and 10 rebounds to complete her double-double. She added two steals and four blocks to her stat line.
Mississippi State 76, Arizona State 53
The Arizona State Sun Devils hanged close with the Mississippi State Bulldogs before the reigning national runners-up flipped a switch and dominated the fourth quarter en route to a 76-53 win.
Mississippi State outscored Arizona State 22-8 and held the Sun Devils to 2-of-12 from the field over the final 10 minutes. At the 5:41 mark of the fourth quarter, Kianna Ibis hit three free throws to trim ASU's deficit to 13 points. The Sun Devils didn't score again until Taya Hanson's three-pointer with 1:14 remaining.
Teaira McCowan made history as she scored 22 points and collected 13 rebounds. With 225 rebounds in the NCAA tournament, she surpassed Sylvia Fowles for the most all time.
Arizona state simply had nothing to counteract McCowan's presence inside. She shot 6-of-8 from the field and hit 10 of her 11 free throws.
All five Bulldogs starters scored in double figures as Mississippi State supported McCowan with a balanced offensive attack.
Louisville 61, Oregon State 44
The Louisville Cardinals put on a defensive master class as the Oregon State Beavers matched their season low in scoring.
Entering Friday, Destiny Slocum and Mikayla Pivec were combining to average 30.9 points for Oregon State. Pivec did her part with 17 points, but Slocum went 3-of-13 and finished with eight points.
As a team, the Beavers shot 30.4 percent from the field and missed 20 of their 22 three-point attempts. They also had 12 turnovers to eight assists.
Louisville was content to slow the pace down and wait for the best shot to present itself. The Cardinals' low score wasn't the result of poor efficiency. They were 7-of-17 from beyond the arc and shot 40.4 percent.
Asia Durr and Sam Fuehring each had 17 points, with Fuehring falling just short of a double-double (nine rebounds). Durr flirted with a double-double as well, bringing down eight boards.
Oregon 63, South Dakota State 53
The South Dakota State Jackrabbits averaged 48.1 percent shooting from the field this season, good for seventh in Division I, but Oregon was having none of that Friday night.
South Dakota State shot just 26.7 percent from the field against the Ducks, with the 53 points being the second-lowest total the Jackrabbits have posted all season.
The Ducks previously beat the Jackrabbits 87-79 on Dec. 12, but this loss marks the first time South Dakota State has dropped a game since Jan. 6.
Oregon junior forward Ruthy Hebard led all scorers with 24 points, while Ducks star junior guard Sabrina Ionescu—known for her triple-doubles—posted a double-double with 17 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.
The Elite Eight awaits Oregon for the third consecutive season, where the Ducks will take on No. 1 Mississippi State on Sunday.
Oregon defeated Mississippi State 82-74 way back on Dec. 18. Mississippi State only lost one other time since then, and that was to Missouri on Feb. 14.
Georgia Tech Women's Coach MaChelle Joseph Fired Amid Bullying Allegations
Mar 26, 2019
FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2019, file photo, Georgia Tech head coach MaChelle Joseph yells to her bench during an NCAA college basketball game against Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. A lawyer for Georgia Tech coach MaChelle Joseph says the coach hasn't been told why she has been suspended and is left to assume the action is retaliation for her concerns about gender equity matters. Joseph's lawyer, Lisa Banks, said in a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, that Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech fired women's basketball coach MaChelle Joseph Tuesday after 16 years with the program following allegations she was "mentally, emotionally and verbally abusive" to members of her team, according to Ken Sugiura of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The school authorized an independent investigation where team members said she "bullied and manipulated them."
"At the end of the day, the most important priority of our athletics department is student-athlete well-being, and it is clear from the findings of this report that we cannot ensure our women’s basketball student-athletes’ well-being with MaChelle as the head coach," athletic director Todd Stansbury said.
The investigation found players said they couldn't trust the coaching staff and they felt they were pressured to play through injury. The team environment was referred to as "hostile," while Joseph was considered manipulative and demeaning.
Among the most serious allegations, the student-athletes said they believe their confidential sessions with the team psychologist were shared with the coaching staff.
Joseph denied the allegations, although she admitted she yelled at players during her career. Per Sugiura, Joseph's attorney alleged the results of the investigation were "manufactured" and the termination was actually an act of retaliation by the school "for the coach's efforts to advocate for gender equity" within the athletics department.
Georgia Tech missed the NCAA tournament this year with a 17-13 record, but Joseph will finish her tenure with the school with a 311-201 record. She has the most wins in program history while leading the squad to the NCAA tournament seven times.
She helped the team earn its first and only Sweet 16 appearance in 2012.
A member of the Northern Kentucky Norse women's basketball team accused head coach Camryn Whitaker of emotional abuse, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer's Sarah Brookbank and James Weber.
"There is a level of power that coaches possess that makes them intimidating to players on some scale, but this coach is different. For three years, a few of my teammates and I were so afraid of her to the point where practice was dreaded. We didn't know what mood she was going to be in. We didn't want to be in the same room alone with her for fear that she would degrade us, as she normally would."
Taugher said Whitaker would verbally dress down her players behind closed doors "where it was your word against hers." She added the school's athletic department "seems to be willing to do anything to silence the multiple emotional abuse allegations."
Brookbank and Weber noted former Northern Kentucky guard Shar'Rae Davis corroborated some of Taugher's claims on Facebook. Taugher said that Whitaker had isolated Davis from the team and punished any player who interacted with her.
Nancy Mungar, the mother of Norse forward Reece Mungar, also wrote a lengthy post on Facebook in which she painted a similar picture of Whitaker's coaching style.
Anna Wright, Northern Kentucky's director of public relations, made a statement to the Enquirer that NKU is "aware of complaints surrounding the women's basketball program." The school also said it reviewed previous complaints brought to it by players.
NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament 2019: Monday Scores and Updated Bracket
Mar 25, 2019
The second round of the 2019 NCAA women's basketball tournament wrapped up with eight games Monday.
The reigning national champions were in action, with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish hosting the Michigan State Spartans. The Baylor Lady Bears, the tournament's No. 1 overall seed, also took the court against the California Golden Bears.
Here's a look at the scores and a recap of the day's events.
No. 6 South Dakota State def. No. 3 Syracuse, 75-64
No. 11 Missouri State def. No. 3 Iowa State, 69-60
No. 1 Baylor def. No. 8 California, 102-63
No. 4 Oregon State def. No. 5 Gonzaga, 76-70
No. 2 Stanford def. No. 7 BYU, 72-63
Bracket
The full bracket for the 2019 women's NCAA tournament can be viewed at NCAA.com.
Notre Dame 91, Michigan State 63
Michigan State was no match for Notre Dame, as the Fighting Irish ran away with a 91-63 victory.
Notre Dame blitzed the Spartans with a 25-point first quarter and then dropped 27 points in the second quarter to take a 52-26 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Irish essentially had their way with Michigan State inside. They owned a 49-37 edge in rebounding and got to the foul line 25 times, compared to 13 for their opponents. Notre Dame also fell just short of the century mark in scoring despite making only four three-pointers.
Arike Ogunbowale led all scorers with 23 points, while Jackie Young (21 points, 11 rebounds) and Brianna Turner (14 points, 11 rebounds) each had a double-double. Turner turned away four shots at the basket as well.
As great as they were on offense, the Fighting Irish were equally strong on defense. They held the Spartans to 37.3 percent shooting. Shay Colley, Michigan State's leading scorer entering the game, shot 2-of-15 from the floor en route to a five-point night.
UCLA 85, Maryland 80
The UCLA Bruins outscored the Maryland Terrapins 19-9 in the fourth quarter to upset the Terps 85-80 on their home floor.
As the teams went back and forth in the final frame, Brianna Fraser brought Maryland to within a point, 79-78, with 3:16 remaining. The Terrapins squandered two possessions that could've put them ahead, allowing Kennedy Burke to give UCLA some breathing room.
With 40 seconds left, Kaila Charles got to the foul line for two shots. She split the pair, which was important because it meant Japreece Dean could give the Bruins a four-point advantage when Maryland had to send her to the charity stripe.
Down two scores, Maryland frantically tried to trim UCLA's lead to no avail.
Michaela Onyenwere showed poise belying her age down the stretch through both her scoring and rebounding. The sophomore forward had 30 points and eight rebounds. Burke finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Dean was outstanding, too, posting 22 points, five rebounds and five assists.
NC State 72, Kentucky 57
A strong opening effort and a dominant performance to close bookended a 72-57 win for the NC State Wolfpack over the Kentucky Wildcats.
In the first and fourth quarters combined, NC State outscored Kentucky 44-26.
The Wildcats rebounded from a sluggish start and hanged around in the second and third quarters. Jaida Roper connected on a deep three-pointer to bring the deficit to five points, 53-48, heading into the final 10 minutes.
Wolfpack senior Kiara Leslie helped seal the victory. Eight of her 26 points came in the fourth quarter, and she scored five quick points in the opening three minutes as NC State's lead swelled to a dozen.
Elissa Cunane was a beast on the boards for NC State, collecting 15 rebounds. She added 13 points for her third double-double of the season.
South Dakota State 75, Syracuse 64
The South Dakota State Jackrabbits are into the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history following a 75-64 win over the Syracuse Orange.
The final score is slightly deceptive, as Syracuse led inside the final four minutes. Madison Guebert hit back-to-back three-pointers to put the Jackrabbits ahead 67-62. Those two shots were the difference, as South Dakota State's lead only grew from there.
The Orange's offense picked the worst time to go cold. Tiana Mangakahia hit a three to put her team ahead 62-59 with 4:53 left in the fourth quarter. Syracuse didn't score again until Digna Strautmane's bucket with 29 seconds remaining. By then the game was out of reach.
Guebert had the hot hand, shooting 6-of-10 from beyond the arc. Syracuse as a team made five three-pointers.
Madison Guebert had 20 points on just 13 true shooting attempts in @GoJacksWBB's victory tonight.
That's 1.54 PPSA, which is like shooting 77% on just 2-point attempts. On the season Guebert ranks in the top 5% for scoring efficiency:https://t.co/82YmLQvIAM
The senior guard played 38 of the 40 minutes, leaving everything she had on the floor to put her team into the regional semifinals.
Missouri State 69, Iowa State 60
The Missouri State Lady Bears made a Final Four run in 2001, with Jackie Stiles leading the way. Stiles was on the bench as an assistant as the school punched its ticket into the Sweet 16.
The Lady Bears pulled off Monday's biggest upset, defeating the Iowa State Cyclones 69-60 in Ames, Iowa.
— Missouri State Lady Bears (@MoStateWBB) March 26, 2019
Missouri State was largely in control from start to finish, though the Cyclones were never too far away.
Things got a bit dicey for the Lady Bears after Bridget Carleton nailed two free throws to cut Iowa State's deficit to a point, 55-54, at the 4:32 mark of the fourth quarter. Alexa Willard and Sydney Manning provided some much-needed relief by making it a six-point game.
From that point forward, the Cyclones missed six of their next seven field-goal attempts. The Lady Bears defense stepped up to suffocate Iowa State.
Carleton had a game-high 31 points. Alexa Middleton and Ashley Joens were the next-highest scorers (nine points) for the Cyclones.
Baylor 102, California 63
Baylor left little doubt as to why it's the top seed by demolishing Cal 102-63.
The Golden Bears might have felt good when they only trailed by three points at the end of the first quarter. That only seemed to make the Lady Bears angry, as they outscored Cal 60-24 over the next 20 minutes. Juicy Landrum's buzzer-beater to close out the first half was an example of how Baylor was rolling.
Kristine Anigwe garnered a lot of attention and rightfully so. The Cal center had a double-double in every game so far this season, including a 32-point, 30-rebound performance against Washington State earlier this month.
Anigwe was no match for 6'7" center Kalani Brown, though. Brown helped limit Anigwe to 13 points on 4-of-17 shooting and five rebounds.
Landrum had 20 points for Baylor, and Chloe Jackson chipped in with 18. For the most part, it was a total team effort from the Lady Bears, with 11 different players scoring in the win.
Oregon State 76, Gonzaga 70
Prior to head coach Scott Rueck's arrival in 2010, the Oregon State Beavers had one appearance in the Sweet 16 (1983). Now, they're through to the regional semifinals for the fourth straight season following a 76-70 win over the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
The Beavers had to fend off a tough fight from the Zags.
Chandler Smith cut Oregon State's lead to a point, 62-61, at the 2:05 mark of the fourth quarter.
Katie Campbell missed three-pointers on back-to-back possessions for the Bulldogs, by which time the Beavers' lead had grown to eight points. When Zykera Rice found the bottom of the net with a three, the Zags still had to close a five-point deficit in 34 seconds.
Gonzaga was forced to foul Katie McWilliams, and her two free throws essentially ruled out any comeback.
Mikayla Pivec had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Beavers and was one of five Oregon State players to score in double figures.
Free-throw shooting played a large role in the outcome. The Beavers were 23-of-28 from the charity stripe to own a 12-point advantage in foul shooting.
Stanford 72, BYU 63
The Stanford Cardinal fended off a tough challenge from the BYU Cougars, winning 72-63 to advance to the Sweet 16.
Stanford started slowly out of the gate, falling behind 15-11 after the first quarter. The game turned around in the second quarter, and DiJonai Carrington was a big reason why.
The Cardinal guard scored 14 of her team's 20 points in the quarter, and she gave Stanford a 31-29 lead going into halftime with a bucket just before the buzzer.
BYU refused to go away to start the second half, with Shaylee Gonzales hitting a three-pointer to put the Cougars ahead 35-34 at the 7:50 mark.
Stanford held BYU scoreless for nearly seven minutes immediately after that shot and embarked on a 16-0 run. By the time Jasmine Moody sank her three-point attempt with a minute left in the third, the Cougars trailed by 12. Alanna Smith answered back for Stanford to give the Cardinal a 15-point edge heading into the final quarter.
BYU continued trying to chip away at the deficit but had too steep of a mountain to climb.
Smith was excellent, posting 23 points, 14 rebounds and three assists in the victory, and Carrington finished with 19 points.
