Women's NCAA Tournament Round Two Preview

by Victor Olorunfemi

November 16, 2023

Read this second-round preview of the women’s NCAA tournament with a look into each game and what tactical and personnel matchups to look out for.

Florida State Region

The Florida State region offers several high-scoring teams, such as Texas, Memphis, Florida State, Arkansas, and Pittsburgh, all among the top 15 scoring offenses nationally. That means a few games could turn into high-flying shootouts.

No. 5 Texas (16-4-2) vs. No. 4 Wisconsin (14-4-4) – Friday, November 17th, 2 PM Eastern, ESPN+

The fascinating story is how Texas and its 4th-ranked offense will do against Wisconsin and a 24th-ranked defense, especially in the matchup of Ashley Martinez and Hailey Baumann versus Lexi Missimo and Trinity Byars. And with this game on a neutral site, it will come down to which team is more comfortable with the uncomfortable.

No. 6 Memphis (19-1) vs. No. 3 Notre Dame (12-3-4) – Friday, November 17th, 4 PM Eastern, ESPN+

Memphis has been one of the most complete teams in the country, yet some believe that is entirely down to a weakened schedule. Well, here is an opportunity on neutral ground against an ACC foe to prove those doubts have no standing.

No. 8 Texas A&M (10-7-4) at No. 1 Florida State (17-0-1) – Friday, November 17th, 5:30 PM Eastern, ESPN+

No one but North Carolina has been able to get anything from Florida State this season, and with Texas A&M’s 139th-ranked defense taking on the Seminoles and their 3rd-ranked offense, this has the potential for a second-round blowout.

No. 7 Pittsburgh (15-5-1) at No. 2 Arkansas (15-4-2) – Friday, November 17th, 7:30 PM Eastern, ESPN+

Pittsburgh scored 6 in the first round, while Arkansas almost matched that with five. But this matchup against a Razorback team that has not lost at home in 31 games may be too tall of a task for Pittsburgh to handle.

Clemson Region

With this as the only region where no team has lost more than four matches on the season, this is arguably the toughest section to make it out of, especially considering that Georgetown, Saint Louis, Penn State, Iowa, and Georgia all come in as their respective conference tournament champions.

No. 5 Iowa (13-4-4) vs. No. 4 Georgia (12-4-5) – Friday, November 17th, 2 PM Eastern, ESPN+

The Big Ten and SEC champs meet in this game of two title holders. The key matchup here is how Iowa’s 31st-ranked defense will fair against Croix Bethune, who is back to her best. But having won three road games to secure the Big Ten trophy, the Hawkeyes will not be the least bit intimidated on neutral ground.

No. 6 Saint Louis (18-2-2) vs. No. 3 Georgetown (13-1-7) – Friday, November 17th, 3 PM Eastern, ESPN+

Saint Louis of the A10 meets Georgetown of the Big East in another matchup of two conference winners. The Hoyas have a habit of bending but not breaking, evident by seven draws, while the Billikens have strength in a richly experienced roster where its core has played as many games with each other as any team in the country. The key here is who can break who down first, as both teams are near flawless when playing with a lead.

No. 8 Columbia (11-4-3) at No. 1 Clemson (16-3-3) – Friday, November 17th, 5:30 PM Eastern, ESPN+

Columbia is in for a monumental challenge at Clemson as it faces a team that survived the ACC gauntlet with flying colors. But anything can happen if Columbia’s defense, which once had a stretch of one conceded in eight games, holds up and snatches a goal on a set piece or counter.

No. 7 Santa Clara (14-4-2) at No. 2 Penn State (14-2-4) – Friday, November 17th, 6 PM Eastern, ESPN+

Penn State is simply not as intimidating as it once was, as a 16-match unbeaten start to the season unraveled to two losses in the final three regular season games. Santa Clara cannot say much either, after losing to 6-win San Francisco on two occasions. The winner of this game is a toss-up, but the Nittany Lions have lost just one of 13 home games.

BYU Region

Two Big-12 teams lead this region of misfits with plenty to prove. Harvard won the Ivy League, but many feel Brown is still the standard for the conference, Michigan State got bounced out in the first round of the Big Ten tournament to an eight seed, USC won just one of six to close out the regular season, BYU and Texas Tech both lost as higher seeds to Texas in the conference tournament, Alabama has struggled to meet last season’s lofty standards, Princeton won just once against a top 25 opponent, and many feel this may be the worst North Carolina team in over a decade. Yeah, this is your region if you like an underdog story.

No. 5 Michigan State (13-4-3) vs. No. 4 Harvard (13-3-2) – Thursday, November 16th, 6 PM Eastern, ESPN+

Ordinarily, one would conclude that a Michigan State team with an incredible 6-1-1 away record has an advantage in a neutral game, except this region is out of the ordinary, and Harvard also boasts a formidable record on the road at 6-2-1. And with both teams securing identical 3-0 first-round wins, this is a complete toss-up.

No. 8 USC (11-4-3) at No. 1 BYU (17-2-3) – Thursday, November 16th, 9 PM Eastern, ESPN+

USC travels to the mountains to take on a BYU side yet to lose through ten home games. But there is hope. The Cougars can be frustrated and caught out on the counter, which an athletic USC side can capitalize on. But that will be challenging against a team with multiple players that can score goals from individual brilliance.

No. 6 Alabama (12-4-5) vs. No. 3 North Carolina (11-1-8) – Friday, November 17th, 3:30 PM Eastern, ESPN+

With three wins from eight road games, North Carolina has not traveled well this season. And against an Alabama team that has done well in hostile environments, this may be curtains for a Tar Heels team that has done everything but score enough goals this season.

No. 7 Princeton (10-5-3) at No. 2 Texas Tech (16-1-4) – Friday, November 17th, 7 PM Eastern, ESPN+

Princeton is in for a long day at a Texas Tech side that has won all eleven home games this season. But Pietra Tordin represents a player who can make something happen from very little if the Tigers keep this game close late.

UCLA Region

Technically, this is no longer the UCLA region, but since it was when the bracket was announced, the name stands. Two upsets in the first round have shaken up this section significantly, as Stanford is now the favorite, and Nebraska is guaranteed to host the second and third rounds. That is the kind of luck teams sometimes need to catalyze a championship run.

No. 16 UC Irvine (9-7-6) vs. No. 8 Gonzaga (14-3-2) – Friday, November 17th, 4:30 PM Eastern, ESPN+

Momentum is the most vital factor in a tournament run, and UC Irvine has plenty of that right now after upsetting UCLA to add to a streak of four games without conceding a goal. But Giana Riley of Gonzaga showed with a hat trick in a WCC title-winning game that she is someone to be feared and called upon in clutch games. Circle this game as a must-watch.

No. 6 Mississippi State (11-5-5) vs. No. 3 Brown (12-2-2) – Friday, November 17th, 6:30 PM Eastern, ESPN+

Mississippi State may have met the end of its road. With a 216th-ranked offense needing overtime to score against Providence in the first round, the Bulldogs face an unfavorable matchup against the sensational Brittany Raphino and a Brown team whose offense and defense rank in the top 50.

No. 13 Tennessee (9-6-4) at No. 5 Nebraska (15-3-3) – Friday, November 17th, 8 PM Eastern, ESPN+

The Volunteers allowed 41 shots at No. 4 seeded Xavier yet won 1-0 in double overtime because the TDS Player of the Week, Ally Zazzara, made 15 saves. The problem is that worked against an Xavier side with an offense that ranked outside the top 100, but it certainly will not against Eleanor Dale, who leads the nation with 26 goals, and a Nebraska offense ranked eight.

No. 7 South Carolina (12-2-6) at No. 2 Stanford (16-0-4) – Friday, November 17th, 9 PM Eastern, ESPN+

South Carolina may have a better chance here than most would assume. For one, the Gamecocks travel well, with only one loss in nine away trips, and two, the SEC will have provided the challenge this team needs to pull off an upset. Stanford must be wary of looking too far ahead, as this is a trap game waiting to happen.