Exciting Sunday of Women’s College Basketball in Nashville

Nashville was buzzing with excitement as women’s college basketball delivered yet another thrilling Sunday filled with surprising upsets and close finishes. In a remarkable turn of events, the Penn State Nittany Lions defeated No. 9 Ohio State 62-59, marking the Buckeyes’ first loss of the season. This win was especially sweet for Penn State, as it was their first victory against an AP top-10 opponent since 2012. As of now, Ohio State holds a 17-1 record overall and 6-1 in the Big Ten, while Penn State improved to 10-9 (1-7 Big Ten).

The game was a rollercoaster of emotions. Although Ohio State’s defense initially shut Penn State out, holding them scoreless for more than five minutes in the first quarter, the Nittany Lions quickly bounced back in the second quarter. The absence of starting point guard Jaloni Cambridge due to illness was felt by the Buckeyes, and they watched as Penn State took control by going on a 20-9 run in that frame.

In another exciting matchup, the No. 4 USC Trojans secured a 73-66 victory over Indiana, maintaining their unbeaten Big Ten streak. Sophomore JuJu Watkins shined bright with 22 points, bolstered by crucial free throw shooting that kept USC ahead despite Indiana’s strong start. However, USC’s defense came to play, forcing 15 turnovers which they turned into 17 points.

The day concluded with a nail-biter as Vanderbilt Commodores stunned Tennessee 71-70. This victory marked Vanderbilt’s first home win over the Volunteers since January 2014. After an evenly matched first quarter, Vanderbilt took charge, limiting Tennessee’s scoring. But as the game progressed, both teams fought tooth and nail.

The Commodores were led by Mikayla Blakes, who netted 23 points, including a dramatic game-winning putback with less than a second on the clock. Vanderbilt’s resilient effort highlights how competitive women’s college basketball has become, promising fans an exciting season ahead.

Overall, Sunday proved once again that anything can happen in college sports, setting the stage for more thrilling showdowns in the weeks to come.