March Madness kicks off with two First Four battles in the women’s tournament, setting the stage for an exciting start to the Big Dance. Both matchups feature contrasting styles, and how these teams match up offensively and defensively will dictate the outcomes. Let’s break down each game in detail.
(11) Columbia vs. (11) Washington (-3.5) – 7 PM ET, ESPN2
Offensive Matchup:
Columbia’s Offense: The Lions are an elite scoring team (78.6 PPG, top 15 nationally) that thrives in transition and shoots 35% from deep. Abbey Hsu (17.6 PPG, 40% 3PT) is a lethal shooter, and Kaitlyn Davis (14.2 PPG, 8.3 RPG) brings versatility inside. They want to push the tempo and get early offense.
Washington’s Offense: The Huskies average 67.3 PPG and rely more on half-court execution and three-point shooting (35% as a team). They don’t play at a fast pace but can be efficient when they control the game’s tempo.
Defensive Matchup:
Columbia’s Defense: Aggressive but vulnerable against size, Columbia ranks middle of the pack defensively and can struggle against teams that execute well in the half-court. Their weakness? Giving up open looks from deep.
Washington’s Defense: One of their strengths, Washington holds opponents to 31% from three and has solid perimeter length to disrupt Columbia’s shooters. However, they can struggle in transition defense, which Columbia will try to exploit.
How They Match Up:
Washington is favored for a reason—they are more battle-tested and have the better half-court defense. If they control the tempo and limit Columbia’s transition chances, they should cover the spread.
Columbia needs to speed this game up and get Hsu and Davis into rhythm early. If they can hit shots and get Washington into a track meet, they could pull off the upset.
X-Factors:
Rebounding – Columbia is undersized, and if Washington dominates the boards, they’ll control the game.
Three-Point Shooting – Columbia needs to hit their threes to keep up with Washington’s defense.
Betting & Prop Angles:
🔅Washington -3.5 – If they slow the game down, they should cover.
🔅Columbia Team Total Over 70.5 – If they dictate the pace, they’ll put up points.
🔅Abbey Hsu Over 2.5 Threes – She’s their best shooter and will have a high volume of attempts.
(16) High Point vs. (16) William & Mary – 9 PM ET, ESPNU
Offensive Matchup:
- High Point’s Offense: Fast-paced, three-point heavy (34% as a team, 25+ attempts per game), and turnover-driven. They play an uptempo style (72.4 PPG) and rely on Jenson Edwards (16.1 PPG, 5.6 APG) and Skyler Curran (38% 3PT) to get them going.
- William & Mary’s Offense: A slower, inside-out team (66.8 PPG) that relies on post play and high-percentage shots. Guard Sydney Wagner (14.5 PPG) leads their attack, but they’ll need to dominate inside.
Defensive Matchup:
- High Point’s Defense: High-pressure, turnover-forcing (17 TOs per game forced), but weak inside.
- William & Mary’s Defense: Disciplined, good on the boards, and more physical inside.
How They Match Up:
- High Point wants to turn this into a three-point shootout and speed up the pace.
- William & Mary will try to slow it down, pound the paint, and win the rebounding battle.
X-Factors:
- Turnovers – High Point thrives on them. If William & Mary takes care of the ball, they’ll control the game.
- Three-Point Shooting vs. Post Play – Whichever team dictates style wins.
Betting & Prop Angles:
- High Point ML (-120) – Their pace and shooting should give them the edge.
- Total Over 135.5 – High Point’s tempo should push this into the 70s.
- Jenson Edwards Over 5.5 Assists – She’s their offensive engine.
Final Thoughts:
Both matchups present fascinating stylistic clashes: Columbia vs. Washington is a battle of fast-paced offense vs. perimeter defense, while High Point vs. William & Mary comes down to three-point shooting vs. inside dominance. The team that dictates the tempo in each game will likely come out on top.
Lock in your plays and get ready for an exciting night of March Madness action! #WMarchMadness #NCAAW #WomensHoops #JuiceLounge #WomensSports #FirstFourW #BasketballBreakdown #NCAAWB #HoopCulture #SportsJuiceWithJu #BetWithJuBoogie
