No lead is safe in the 2023 women’s NCAA tournament.
On Friday, Georgia, Princeton and South Florida erased deficits to advance to the second round. That was just an appetizer.
Saturday’s comebacks were historic. For the first time, three teams rallied from at least 16 points down to win on the same day, according to ESPN Stats & Information. It’s just the second time it has happened in a single tournament, but Baylor, Miami and Ohio State all did it within four hours. The Bears won the big prize, coming back from an 18-point first-quarter deficit against Alabama. The Hurricanes were down 17 to Oklahoma State at halftime. The Buckeyes trailed upset-minded James Madison by 14 midway through the second quarter before their press and the Columbus crowd got them going.
Two No. 12 seeds also won Saturday after a No. 11 and No. 10 advanced on Friday. The biggest stunner: Toledo taking down Big 12 champion Iowa State. Florida Gulf Coast made its way to the second round for the second straight year, knocking out another conference champion, the Pac-12’s Washington State.
And as the upsets and dominant performances give the field a new look, we’re reshaping the landscape,…
