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Women's NCAA Tournament winners, losers: Minnesota stuns Ole Miss
Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Amaya Battle. Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Women's NCAA Tournament winners, losers: Minnesota stuns Ole Miss; Madison Booker goes off for Texas

The first day of second-round action in the women's NCAA Tournament took place on Sunday. Although the top teams mostly took care of business, a late game-winner and some key individual performances highlighted an eventful day.

Here are some winners and losers from the day.

Winner: No. 4 Minnesota's heroics

The four-seed Minnesota (24-8, 13-5 Big Ten) entered the fourth quarter of Sunday's meeting with five-seed Ole Miss (24-12, 8-8 SEC) facing a 54-46 deficit. 

The Golden Gophers erased that by outscoring the Rebels, 19-9, in the final frame, which culminated with this game-winning shot from senior guard Amaya Battle to punctuate the thrilling 65-63 win.

Those were two of Battle's 14 points (5-of-13 FG) in the game, sending Minnesota to its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2005.

Loser: Ole Miss forward Cotie McMahon fouling out

The Ole Miss senior had 15 points (5-of-6 FG) in 21 minutes of the nail-biting loss to the four-seed Minnesota, but she fouled out of the game with 4:22 remaining after she was called for a charge. Head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin specifically took issue with the officiating during the game, one in which the Rebels held a five-point lead when McMahon fouled out.

Winner: Texas forward Madison Booker

The one-seed Texas (33-3, 13-3 SEC) only led eight-seed Oregon (23-13, 8-10 Big Ten) by seven after the opening quarter, but it made this game a runaway with its efficient shooting from the floor. The Longhorns were 37-of-66 (56%) overall, and the junior forward was a huge reason why with 40 points (14-of-21 FG), which is tied for the eighth-most points in a first or second-round NCAA Tournament game.

Loser: No. 6 Baylor's three-point shooting woes

The three-seed Duke (26-8, 16-2 ACC) entered Sunday's game tied for the 22nd-best three-point defense in the country (27.4%), so that was a major area of concern coming in for the six-seed Bears. However, Baylor (25-9, 13-5 Big 12) was a dismal 0-of-14 from deep in a 69-46 blowout loss, bowing out of the Big Dance after a poor offensive showing that began with only 16 first-half points.

Winner: LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson

The two-seed LSU (29-5, 12-4 SEC) made quick work of the seven-seed Texas Tech (26-8, 12-6 Big 12) in a 101-47 win, but the biggest story coming out of the victory was the senior's final home game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (PMAC). Johnson put up 24 points (9-of-13 FG) and had the perfect send-off for someone who has been one of the greatest players in the program's history.

"I gave it everything," Johnson told ESPN's Alyssa Lang in her post-game interview. "And I want to thank y'all for giving me everything."

Loser: Washington Huskies

Each of the higher-seeded teams won their respective games on Sunday, but the six-seed Washington (22-11, 10-8 Big Ten) nearly played spoiler in a 62-59 overtime loss to the three-seed TCU (31-5, 15-3, Big 12). The Huskies led by as many as 10 and held the Horned Frogs to just 19 first-half points, but could not pull off the upset.

Winner: No. 2 Michigan's 64-point second half

The two-seed Wolverines (27-6, 15-3 Big Ten) only took a 28-25 lead into the break against the seven-seed NC State (21-11, 13-5 ACC), but a 64-point outburst in the second half made all the difference. A lot of that was due to the balanced scoring from sophomore guards Olivia Olson (27 points) and Syla Swords (26 points), who combined for over half of the team's points in a 92-63 rout.

Colby Colwell

Colby Colwell is a freelance contributor with a bachelor’s in Computer & Information Technology and a minor in Psychology from Western Kentucky University. With a deep passion for sports, especially NASCAR, he offers his substantial knowledge along with his adept writing skills. When he’s not writing, Colby enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with his family

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