ACC 2025 Women’s Tournament Day Opening Round Recaps (3-6-2025)
By: Joe Dillard Jr.
Headline Photo Credit: UNC
Day 1
The first day of the Women’s ACC tournament was a blast and off to the right start as they had a game number one with Syracuse against Boston College. Syracuse jumped out to a 27-14 first-quarter lead and at the end of the half had the largest lead of the game of 19 points. Fortunately for Boston College, they had half left to play and used every bit of its outscoring Syracuse 48-28 and advanced with a 76-73 win. Led by Dontavia Waggoner’s career-high of 32 points Teya Sidberry scored 24 points and gathered 17 rebounds. They advance on to play North Carolina at 11 am.
Game 2 was the highest seed of day one in UVA which came in with a 3-game winning streak and looked to make some noise and went against Pittsburgh. After a back-and-forth first half, UVA led 26-22. From that point on UVA put the clamps on and extended the lead with an efficient third quarter. Kymora Johnson led the way with 17 as 3 other Hoos notched double figures to advance 64-50. They advance to play California tomorrow at 6 pm. Winners of four in a row now looking to continue winning.
Clemson made light work of Stanford in the third and final game of the first night winning 63-46. Loyal McQueen led all scorers with 17 points but dished out 6 assists to propel Clemson into the next round against Louisville.
With day one in the books and the title starting to warm up on Gate City drive, the winners of day 2 will have the engine running and will be hot-looking to upset the big four waiting with double byes for a chance to raise the ACC Tournament Championship.
Day 2
In game 4 of the ACC Tournament, North Carolina took on Boston College in what would be a competitive game with
Game 5 featured the 8 vs 9 matchup in Virginia Tech taking on Georgia Tech. This is essentially a win and you’re in the NCAA tournament but as far as the ACC tourney this matchup did not disappoint. Even at the half 32 a piece, it would be Georgia Tech who pulled away outrebounding the Hokies 46 to 32 with Tonie Morgan leading the way with 19 points in a huge win that will send them into the quarterfinals against the number one seed N.C. State Wolfpack.
In game 6 UVA faced off against California and this was a battle of nutrition as the Ladies of UVA were short with 7 players after LaTasha Lattimore went down early in the first quarter and was pushing hard at the end of the season for a chance to punch a ticket. Kymora Johnson led the Hoos with 18 points and 8 rebounds, but it was the dominance on the boards with Cali outrebounding UVA 46 to 28. Marta Suarez and OnyiahUgonne each had 10 rebounds while four Lady Bears were in double figures. They will advance to ace number 2 seed Notre Dame, last year’s tournament champion.
The final game of day two had number 6 seed Louisville facing Clemson where Clemson jumped out to an early lead but in the second quarter, both teams were delivering blows and battling as the first half went to Louisville as Izela Arenas and Ja’LeahWilliams led the charge tallying for 14 points to give Louisville a one-point lead at the half. Clemson started off the third quarter with early buckets and at the 7:03 mark, Olivia Cochran picked up her third foul, placing her on the bench. Clemson went up by two with the next possession and continued to put pressure on Louisville as the lead expanded to 7 points. Before the end of the quarter, the Lady Cards found themselves in a dogfight trailing 47-43. With all 40 minutes needed to determine a winner. Tied at 57 with 53.0 left to play, the Lady Cards came up with a bucket by Olivia Cochran and had multiple defensive stops to lead number 13 seed Clemson 60 -57. With less than 6 seconds to go, Hannah Kohn hits the game-tying three to send the game into overtime! With Louisville up 68-67, Clemson brought the ball down, and again Louisville came up big with the stop. Louisville survives and advances 70-67 in a thriller to face Duke in the nightcap of the quarterfinal round.
We are starting to get the energy needed for teams to play with passion after two nights here in Greensboro and the fans are starting to fill in by the hour with the weekend right ahead. Friday day 3 of the tournament should be the best day with four amazing games with teams playing great basketball.
