Women’s NCAA Champ Week begins with 31 automatic bids on the line
Thirty-one automatic bids to the women’s NCAA tournament are on the line as Champ Week begins following the conclusion of the Power 4 regular season.
Conference tournament titles will be decided over the next fortnight as teams look to secure their place in March Madness.
Leagues will also be distributing individual awards during this crucial period of the basketball calendar.
While some races remain tight, certain accolades appear all but settled.
In the Big East, UConn’s Sarah Strong looks to be a lock for Player of the Year.
Similarly, Richmond’s Maggie Doogan has established herself as the clear frontrunner in the Atlantic 10.
Projections for the America East
Vermont Catamounts are the predicted champions for the America East conference.
The Burlington-based side pulled away from rivals Binghamton over the final two weeks of the season.
This run included a decisive victory over the Bearcats on 12 February.
Should the two sides meet again in the tournament title game, Vermont will host the rematch.
Maine forward Adrianna Smith is the standout choice for the conference’s Player of the Year.
The senior will leave the programme as one of its most productive players in history.
Smith achieved a rare statistical feat this campaign by topping the America East in scoring, rebounds and assists.
Rice rely on defence in the American
The Rice Owls are favoured to take the American Athletic Conference title despite lacking a top-10 scorer.
Their success has been built on a stifling defence that leads the nation in opponent three-point percentage.
Hailey Adams has proved to be one of the conference’s premier shot blockers.
East Carolina’s Kennedy Fauntleroy is the tip for Player of the Year honours.
The senior guard struggled during stints at Oklahoma State and Arizona State but has regained her best form with the Pirates.
Fauntleroy has reached career highs in points and assists while leading the American in steals.
Jacksonville holds home advantage in ASUN
The Jacksonville Dolphins are predicted to triumph in the ASUN Conference.
Although they trailed Eastern Kentucky earlier in the year, the Dolphins enter the post-season as the hotter team.
Crucially, they will enjoy home comforts with the tournament played at their local VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
Priscilla Williams is expected to claim the Player of the Year award for Jacksonville.
The well-travelled senior found a home in Florida after previous spells at Syracuse, South Florida and Oregon.
In her final collegiate season, Williams led the ASUN in rebounding and ranked second in scoring.
