Daily Briefing — Jan. 3, 2022: Caitlin Clark. That’s the headline.

W Roundup

Chicago: Extended qualifying offers to wing Diamond DeShields and combo guard Lexie Brown, as first reported by Winsidr’s Rachel Galligan and confirmed by our Sky reporter, James Kay. For those new to W free agency, a qualifying offer is simply a contract offer to a restricted free agent that is a slight increase of their prior salary — it essentially just indicates the team isn’t going to straight-up release that player. For someone like Brown, there’s a good chance she returns to Chicago on the QO; for DeShields, she’ll likely receive a larger commitment from the Sky and/or a bidding war between Chicago and prospective squads in her restricted free agency.

(All times in Eastern)

Watch List, Monday, Jan. 3

Must-watch

None

Good games

None

Also watchable

None

Sickos games

None

Sunday, Jan. 2 recap

#1 South Carolina: 80-68 win over Mississippi State. Shot 50% from the field but committed 18 turnovers. Wing Zia Cooke scored a game-high 18 points on 6-for-16 from the field and 2-for-6 from three with two assists against two turnovers; center Aliyah Boston notched a double-double with 16 points on 5-for-7 shooting (1-2 3pt., 5-7 FT) and 11 rebounds, plus four assists and two blocks against two turnovers; combo forward Victaria Saxton scored a season-high 13 points on 6-for-8 FG with two steals and two turnovers; backup center Kamilla Cardoso had 10 points on 4-for-5 from the field, six rebounds, and two blocks; point guard Destanni Henderson tallied four points on 2-for-7 shooting (0-2 3pt.), a career-high 14 rebounds, and a season-high-tying eight assists against three turnovers — just the sixth 4/14/8 line in the Her Hoop Stats era (since 2009).

#2 Stanford: 82-44 win over Washington State. Won the fourth quarter 24-3. Notched 17 steals. Point wing Haley Jones scored a game-high 24 points on 10-for-14 shooting (0-1 3pt.) with 16 rebounds for a double-double with three assists against three turnovers; backup big Kiki Irifen had 13 points on 6-for-10 from the field and eight rebounds (three offensive) in 14 minutes; center Fran Belibi notched 10 points on 3-for-9 FG, eight rebounds, and three steals against two turnovers in 16 minutes; off-ball guard Hannah Jump tallied 10 points on 4-for-12 from the field and 2-for-7 from three.

Centers Cameron Brink and Ashten Prechtel and off-ball guard Brooke Demetre (as well as two other players) did not travel to Pullman, Wash. for undisclosed reasons.

#3 Louisville, #16 Georgia Tech: The Cardinals beat the Yellow Jackets, 50-48. Georgia Tech won the first quarter 11-3, but Louisville tied it by halftime; the Cardinals didn’t lead from 8:20 in the third until big wing Emily Engstler’s go-ahead layup with two seconds left. The Yellow Jackets had a 95.8% win expectancy under two minutes remaining with a five-point lead, before committing a pair of turnovers and a foul while allowing Louisville to shoot 3-for-4. The teams combined to shoot 34.7% from the field and 50.0% from the line while combining for 41 turnovers. Georgia Tech notched 12 assists on its, uh, 15(!) buckets.

Engstler scored a game-high 14 points on 6-for-12 shooting (2-3 3pt.) with four rebounds, two steals, and four fouls in 22 minutes; wing Kianna Smith returned to the lineup, finishing with six points on 2-for-4 from three (0-2 from two), six rebounds, three assists, two turnovers, and three fouls in 29 minutes; combo guard Hailey Van Lith and center Olivia Cochran combined for 14 points on 4-for-18 from the field and 6-for-14 from the line, with Cochran adding 13 rebounds (six offensive) and three blocks. Yellow Jacket big Lorela Cubaj had a 12-point, 16-rebound double-double on 5-for-8 shooting (1-1 3pt.) with five assists, two steals, and five turnovers; combo forward Digna Strautmane notched 13 points on 4-for-6 from three (0-4 from two); point guard Lotta-Maj Lahtinen and combo guard Eylia Love combined for 3-for-19 from the field and 3-for-9 from three and nine fouls, with Lahtinen adding three assists against eight turnovers.

#6 Maryland, #8 Indiana: The Hoosiers beat the Terps 70-63 in overtime, Indiana’s first-ever win over Maryland (12 games). The Hoosiers shot 45.6% from the field while holding the Terps to 36.2% shooting and 23.1% from three on Maryland’s fourth-fewest attempts over the past three seasons; the Terps notched 13 steals, part of 38 combined turnovers; the teams also combined for 37 unintentional fouls.

Combo guard Ali Patberg led Indiana with 18 points on 6-for-11 shooting (2-3 3pt.) and three assists without a turnover; big Aleksa Gulbe and center Mackenzie Holmes each notched a double-double — Gulbe with 17 points on 6-for-14 from the field (1-6 3pt., 4-6 FT) and 10 rebounds against four fouls, Holmes with 15 points on 7-for-10 FG and 14 rebounds (five offensive) against four turnovers and four fouls. Big Angel Reese led the Terps with a 22-point, 12-rebound double-double on 8-for-16 FG (6-7 FT) with six offensive boards, two steals, and three blocks against three turnovers and four unintentional fouls in 35 minutes; wing Diamond Miller came off the bench and finished with 17 points on 4-for-11 from the field (1-3 3pt.) and 8-for-10 from the line, four rebounds, four steals, and five turnovers; point guard Ashley Owusu scored 10 points on 4-for-13 shooting with one assist and a career-high-tying seven turnovers.

#7 Tennessee: 70-63 win over Arkansas. The Razorbacks led by as many as eight in the late third quarter, before the Vols won the fourth, 25-15. Tennessee missed 13 free throws; held Arkansas to season-lows of 30.3% from the field and 20.0% from three; committed 20 turnovers and 21 fouls, but drew 29 fouls. Wing Rae Burrell played her first game since suffering a knee injury Nov. 10, finishing with two points in 12 minutes on 1-for-2 FG (0-2 FT); center Tamari Key recorded a game-high 17 points on 5-for-11 from the field and 7-for-10 from the line with seven rebounds (five offensive) and four blocks against four turnovers and fouls apiece; combo forward Alexus Dye had a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double on 6-for-9 FG against four turnovers; combo guard Jordan Walker notched 13 points on 3-for-8 shooting (1-2 3pt., 6-8 FT), seven rebounds, three assists, and two turnovers; point wing Jordan Horston scored 12 point on 3-for-13 from the field (0-1 3pt., 6-10 FT) with seven rebounds and five assists against three turnovers and four fouls.

#10 Baylor: 68-59 loss to Kansas State, the Wildcats’ first-ever win over Baylor (34 games) — in fact, their only game closer than a nine-point loss! Kansas State took a 3-2 lead in the second minute and never trailed thereafter. The Bears shot 38.9% from the field, 30.0% from three, and 64.7% from the line while the Wildcats shot 51.1% overall; the teams combined for 45 turnovers and 41 fouls. Point guard Jordan Lewis led Baylor with 13 points on 4-for-10 from the field (1-6 3pt.) and 5-for-8 from the line, five rebounds, four assists, and five steals against four turnovers; off-ball guard Ja’Mee Asberry matched those 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting (4-7 3pt.); big NaLyssa Smith played the entire game, finishing with 12 points on 4-for-12 FG (4-6 FT), seven rebounds (four offensive), three assists, two steals, and two blocks; center Queen Egbo fouled out in 17 minutes. Center Ayoka Lee scored a game-high 32 points on 11-for-16 from the field and 10-for-13 from the line with 10 rebounds for a double-double, plus two assists, three steals, two blocks against four turnovers in 27 minutes; point guard Serena Sundell had 10 points on 3-for-8 shooting (1-4 3pt.), six assists, six turnovers, and four fouls.

#12 Texas: 62-51 win over Oklahoma State. Trailed by nine in the mid-first quarter, but led from the early-second on. Committed 19 fouls; forced 18 turnovers and drew 18 fouls. Off-ball guard Audrey Warren scored 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting (1-1 3pt.) with nine rebounds (four offensive) and two assists against two turnovers; wing Joanne Allen-Taylor matched those 14 points on 6-for-15 FG (0-2 3pt.) with two assists against three turnovers; point guard Rori Harmon came off the bench for some reason — off-ball guard Aliyah Matharu started in her place — and finished with 11 point on 4-for-11 from the field (1-2 3pt.), five rebounds, and four steals against four fouls.

#13 Georgia: 73-69 win over Florida. The Gators led by seven as late as 6:39 in the fourth quarter, before the Bulldogs reeled off 10 straight points. Center Jenna Staiti remained out due to COVID protocols. Point guard Que Morrison tied a game-high with 18 points on 4-for-13 from the field (0-2 3pt.) and 10-for-10 from the line with six rebounds, four assists, and five steals against two turnovers; center Malury Bates started in Staiti’s place, finishing with 13 points on 6-for-9 FG, six rebounds (five offensive), and two turnovers in 22 minutes — career-highs in points, attempts, and offensive boards.

#14 Iowa State: 88-72 win over West Virginia. Assisted on 26 of its 33 buckets; the teams combined for 37 fouls. Wing Ashley Joens had 29-point, 11-rebound double-double on 9-for-16 from the field (2-5 3pt.) and 9-for-9 from the line and 11 rebounds, plus three assists and two blocks against three turnovers; point guard Emily Ryan finished one rebound shy of a triple-double, with 10 points on 3-for-10 shooting (2-6 3pt.), nine rebounds, and 16 assists against three turnovers; combo guard Lexi Donarski and center Beatriz Jordao each scored 14 points — Donarski on 5-for-12 from the field (2-5 3pt.), Jordao on 7-for-12 FG with four rebounds and career-high-tying three assists.

#15 Duke, #17 Notre Dame: The Blue Devils beat the Fighting Irish, 72-70. A back-and-forth affair, Duke led by six early, before Notre Dame staked a nine-point lead in the early third quarter; the Blue Devils retook the lead on an 11-0 run, then the Irish scored 11 unanswered of their own; Duke used eight unanswered to take a two-point lead with under three-and-a-half minutes to go, before losing and finally retaking the lead. The teams combined to shoot 51.2% overall, with the Blue Devils adding 10-for-20 from three, while combining for only 10 free-throw attempts.

Duke big wing Elizabeth Balogun scored 27 points — most since her freshman season at Georgia Tech, including the game-winning jumper — on 11-for-16 shooting (3-5 3pt.) with season-highs of three steals and four turnovers; combo guard Miela Goodchild made her first start of the year, finishing with 13 points on 5-for-5 from the field (3-3 3pt.), four rebounds, and two assists; combo forward Lexi Gordon broke out of a shooting slump with 12 points on 5-for-10 from the field and 2-for-6 from three, four rebounds, and season-high four assists; leading scorer Shayeann Day-Wilson returned from COVID protocols but struggled, with two points on 0-for-7 FG with two assists and two steals. Center Maya Dodson led the Irish in scoring for the second straight game, finishing with 26 points on 13-for-23 FG, nine rebounds (five offensive), and five turnovers; point guard Olivia Miles had 13 points on 6-for-14 from the field (1-5 3pt.), six rebounds, four assists, and three steals against three turnovers; wing Sonia citron notched 14 points on 6-for-11 shooting (1-2 3pt.), four rebounds, two assists, and two steals off the bench.

#19 LSU, #23 Texas A&M: The Tigers beat the Aggies 75-66. LSU led through the mid-second quarter, until Texas A&M took over until the early fourth, a period the Tigers won 29-17. LSU shot 42.1% from three, despite missing 12 free-throws, while holding the Aggies to 32.9% from the field; the Tigers drew 20 fouls. Combo guard Alexis Morris scored a career-high 30 points on 9-for-16 from the field, 4-for-9 from three, and 8-for-12 from the line with five rebounds, three assists, and three turnovers; point guard Khayla Pointer once again came close to another triple-double, finishing with 17 points on 6-for-13 shooting (4-7 3pt.), nine rebounds, and eight assists against two turnovers without ever sitting; off-ball guard Jailin cherry had 10 points on 4-for-13 FG (0-1 3pt.), seven rebounds (three offensive), and six assists. Combo guard Destiny Pitts notched an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double on 7-for-13 from the field and 4-for-10 from three; off-ball guard Qadashah Hoppie tallied 16 points on 5-for-12 shooting (2-5 3pt.) and five assists in 40 minutes; wing Kayla Wells had 13 points on 5-for-18 FG (3-7 3pt.), five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two turnovers.

#21 Iowa: 93-56 win over Evansville. Won the third quarter 32-13. Center Monika Czinano and wing McKenna Warnock were out due to COVID protocols. Shot 51.3% from the field; forced 20 turnovers. Point guard Caitlin Clark scored a career-high 44 points on 18-for-26 from the field and 2-for-7 from three (6-7 FT) with five rebounds, eight assists, and two steals in — wait for it — 29 minutes. Yeah, I’ve no idea how that was possible, either. Off-ball guard Gabbie Marshall had 13 points on 5-for-11 shooting (3-8 3pt.), three rebounds, and three assists against two turnovers; backup big Addison O’Grady — the composite^{^} No. 76 freshman in the country — had her first career double-double, with 14 points on 7-for-10 FG and 12 rebounds (three offensive), and two blocks against four turnovers in 25 minutes — all career-highs.

#24 North Carolina: 81-62 win over Clemson. Won the first half 46-24. Shot 39.4% from the field but 38.5% from three — the Tar Heels’ third game with at least 79 points while shooting under 40%, something only Troy has also done more than once; notched 18 steals; committed 18 fouls, but drew 25. Combo guard Deja Kelly scored a career-high 31 points on 10-for-22 from the field and 5-for-11 from three (6-7 FT) with four rebounds, four assists, and two steals; wing Kennedy Todd-Williams had 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting (1-2 3pt.), eight rebounds (four offensive), three assists, five steals, and two turnovers; big wing Alyssa Ustby notched 10 points on 3-for-8 FG (4-6 FT), five rebounds (three offensive), four assists, and six steals against two turnovers. 

RV* Oklahoma: 97-91 win over Texas Tech. Won the first quarter 29-17. Shot 46.6% from the field, 39.4% from three, and 80.0% from the line; allowed the Raiders to shoot 50.0% overall; the teams combined for 40 fouls. Wing Madi Williams fouled out in 25 minutes, finishing with 24 points on 7-for-12 shooting (4-5 3pt., 6-8 FT), five rebounds, four assists, and three turnovers; off-ball guard Skylar Vann scored 19 points off the bench on 8-for-15 from the field and 3-for-6 from three with four rebounds; combo guard Taylor Robertson notched 17 points on 6-for-11 FG (2-6 3pt.), seven rebounds, and five assists; point guard Kelbie Washington had 10 points on 3-for-8 shooting (1-3 3pt.), three rebounds, and seven assists against two turnovers.

Cancellations

• #4 Arizona @ UCLA
• #22 South Florida vs. Memphis
• UCF vs. Temple
• Oregon State vs. Utah
• Seattle vs. Cal Baptist
• Syracuse vs. Florida State
• Georgetown vs. Seton Hall
• Virginia vs. Miami
• Washington vs. Cal
• Vanderbilt vs. Mizzou
• USC vs. Arizona State
• Houston vs, Tulane
• Delaware vs. Towson
• Ohio vs. Eastern Michigan
• Butler vs. Providence
• Drexel vs. James Madison
• Lafayette vs. American
• Hofstra vs. Charleston
• Holy Cross vs. Loyola (MD)
• UMass-Lowell vs. Binghamton
• UIC vs. Northern Kentucky
• UMBC vs. New Hampshire
• Albany vs. Vermont

*Receiving Votes

^Consensus rankings are drawn from an aggregation of ESPN, Blue Star, Prep Girls, ASGR, and Prospects Nation