2024 Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament: Day 3 Preview

We're heading into Day 3 of the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament on Friday. All of the top-four seeds will be in action, with trips to the semifinals hanging in the balance. Here's a breakdown of Friday's games.

Get your popcorn ready, Big Ten fans. The quarterfinal round of the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament should be incredibly entertaining from start to finish.

All of the top-four seeds will be in action on Friday. We'll see stars like Caitlin Clark (Iowa), Jacy Sheldon (Ohio State), Julia Ayrault (Michigan State) and Sara Scalia (Indiana) in action. It's going to be must-watch television from the first tip-off at 12:30 p.m. ET until the final buzzer of the last game.

Here's the preview for Day 3 in Minneapolis for the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament. All four contests will air on the Big Ten Network.

View the complete Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament bracket here.

No. 8 Maryland vs. No. 1 Ohio State

• Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
• TV: Big Ten Network
• Game: No. 7

Preview

• Ohio State record: 25-4 (16-2 in Big Ten)
• Maryland record: 18-12 (9-9 in Big Ten)
• Regular season meeting(s): Ohio State def. Maryland 84-76 on Jan. 17; Ohio State def. Maryland 79-66 on Feb. 25.

Ohio State's success against Maryland this season has come from a balanced attack. In both Buckeye victories, all five starters scored in double figures. 

Maryland is coming in with some momentum after overcoming a 14-point first quarter deficit to Illinois in Thursday's game. Bri McDaniel stepped up in a big way, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the comeback victory. Ohio State will be well-rested when it takes the floor, having earned a double-bye after winning the Big Ten regular season title outright. 

Ohio State players to watch

• Jacy Sheldon, senior: One of the Big Ten's most prolific scorers, Sheldon was a first-team All-Big Ten selection this season. She's averaging 18.2 points per game, shooting over 51% from the floor and nearly 40% from 3-point range. She's also done a great job of setting her teammates up for success this season, averaging just under four assists per game. Sheldon is also one of the better defenders in the conference.
• Cotie McMahon, sophomore: McMahon has done an excellent job on the glass for the Buckeyes this season, averaging 6.4 rebounds per game. She's also the team's second-leading scorer at 14.1 points per contest. The 6-foot forward has scored in double figures in 15 of Ohio State's last 16 games, including a 33-point outing in an overtime win over Iowa.
• Celeste Taylor, senior: The senior guard was voted the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by coaches at the end of the regular season. Taylor can create opportunities for her teammates and does a good job of forcing teams into turnovers. On the offensive end, she averages 10.3 points and 3.3 assists per contest.

Maryland players to watch

• Shyanne Sellers, junior: The 6-foot-2 guard can do literally anything on the court. Sellers has flirted with a triple-double on a few occasions this season and is also capable of scoring at a high rate. She enters the Big Ten Tournament averaging 15.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. Sellers was a first-team All-Big Ten selection.
• Jakia Brown-Turner, senior: Brown-Turner may not be the tallest player on the floor (6-foot), but she's been Maryland's top rebounder this season, grabbing 6.5 boards per game. She can also put the ball in the hoop, scoring 32 points in 31 minutes in a win over Penn State.
• Brinae Alexander, senior: Alexander is probably the best threat for the Terrapins behind the 3-point line, hitting at a 38.1% mark for the year. Teams will have to account for her ability to knock down shots from the perimeter.

No. 5 Nebraska  vs. No. 4 Michigan State

• Time: 25 minutes after Game 7
• TV: Big Ten Network
• Game: No. 8

Preview

• Michigan State record: 22-7 (12-6 in Big Ten)
• Nebraska record: 20-10 (11-7 in Big Ten)
• Regular season meeting(s): Nebraska def. Michigan State 80-74 on Dec. 9.

The biggest key in the lone meeting between Nebraska and Michigan State way back in December was the battle on the glass. The Huskers outrebounded the Spartans 46-30, with 17 boards collected by Nebraska star forward Alexis Markowski. The Spartans need to do a better job on the interior to have a chance.

On Thursday, Nebraska used a big fourth quarter to push past a pesky Purdue team and advance to the quarterfinal round of the Big Ten Tournament. Michigan State plays its first game on Friday and is one of the hottest teams in the conference. The Spartans won their last five games to close out the regular season.

Michigan State players to watch

• Julia Ayrault, senior: Ayrault was a first-team All-Big Ten selection after stuffing the stat sheet for the entire 2023-24 college basketball season. The 6-foot-2 senior averaged 15.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. She also shot at a 51.7% clip and was better than 35% from 3-point range. She enters the Big Ten Tournament having reached double figures in each of her last 11 games.
• Moira Joiner, senior: Shooting at a 42.8% clip, Joiner is a dangerous 3-pointer shooter and has the potential to hit from long range in bunches. She knocked down seven shots from distance in a win over Central Michigan and connected on six-of-nine in a blowout win over Rutgers in late February.
• DeeDee Hagemann, junior: Hagemann does a great job finding her teammates on the floor, averaging more than five assists per contest this season. But she's also an effective scorer, averaging 12.6 points per game and connecting at a 51.6% clip. Hagemann also does an excellent job of controlling the basketball and not turning it over.

Nebraska players to watch

• Alexis Markowski, junior: Markowski has been a walking double-double this season, recording 17 for the year. Her best outing came in a win over Purdue, scoring 20 points and grabbing 21 rebounds. The 6-foot-3 center has been tough for most teams to defend in the low post. Markowski was a first-team All-Big Ten selection.
• Jaz Shelley, senior: While she's capable of scoring, Shelley can be most dangerous as a distributor, dishing out 5.2 assists per game this season. The senior has recorded six assists or more in each of the final four games of the regular season. She also hit double-digit scoring totals three times in that stretch.
• Natalie Potts, freshman: Voted the Freshman of the Year by Big Ten coaches, Potts has been a tremendous addition for Nebraska this season. She's averaging 10.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while making 52% of her shots from the floor. Potts hasn't been afraid to step into a significant role and contribute.

No. 7 Penn State vs. No. 2 Iowa

• Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
• TV: Big Ten Network
• Game: No. 9

Preview

• Iowa record: 26-4 (15-3 in Big Ten)
• Penn State record: 19-11 (9-9 in Big Ten)
• Regular season meeting(s): Iowa def. Penn State 111-93 on Feb. 8.

The Hannah Stuelke game. Penn State had no answer for the 6-foot-2 forward back in February, as Stuelke scored a career-high 47 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the win. The Hawkeyes also got 27 from Caitlin Clark and 16 from Kate Martin.

After failing to win the Big Ten regular season, Iowa will be trying to win the conference tournament title for a third straight year. Penn State, on the other hand, needs a signature win to boost its NCAA Tournament resumé. There's quite a bit at stake for the Nittany Lions entering this one.

Iowa players to watch

• Caitlin Clark, senior: Clark needs no introduction, as she's well on her way to winning the National Player of the Year Award for a second straight season. The senior is averaging 32.3 points per game this season, the top scoring average in women's college basketball. She's also dishing out 8.7 assists and collecting 7.3 rebounds per contest for the Hawkeyes.
• Hannah Stuelke, sophomore: The sophomore has improved quite a bit from her freshman campaign, becoming the second-best scorer and rebounder for Iowa this season, averaging 14.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. If teams put too much emphasis on Clark, Stuelke is capable of having a a big night.
• Kate Martin, senior: Martin is the only other Hawkeye averaging double figures this season, scoring 13 points per game. The 6-foot senior has been efficient when shooting the ball, connecting on a 52.2% rate. 

Penn State players to watch

• Ashley Owusu, senior: Owusu enters the Big Ten Tournament as Penn State's leading scorer, averaging 18 points per game. She's also posting 5.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per contest while shooting 48.9% from the floor. She's only played in 14 games for the Nittany Lions but has reached double figures 13 times.
• Leilani Kapinus, junior: A Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection, Kapinus has been a pest to opponents this year. She's forced 2.1 steals and collected 1.2 blocks per game. She's also Penn State's top rebounder with 6.6 per game and is scoring more than 11 points per contest.
• Shay Ciezki, sophomore: Ciezki has been effective from the 3-point line all season, shooting 39.1% from 3-point range. She's shown the ability to catch fire, knocking down seven triples against Oklahoma State and going eight-of-14 from deep against Central Connecticut State.

No. 6 Michigan vs. No. 3 Indiana

• Time: 25 minutes after Game 9
• TV: Big Ten Network
• Game: No. 10

Preview

• Indiana record: 24-4 (15-3 in Big Ten)
• Michigan record:18-12 (9-9 in Big Ten)
• Regular season meeting(s): Indiana def. Michigan 80-59 on Jan. 4

Indiana shut down Michigan's 3-point shooting in their lone meeting in January, holding the Wolverines to just one-of-nine from long range. The Hoosiers also got to the free throw line 29 times.

Michigan cruised to a win over Minnesota on Thursday, so this shouldn't be a tired team. Indiana has a lot of weapons, but a lot of the team's success depends on the health of Mackenzie Holmes, who was injured in the season finale against Maryland. The Hoosiers might have the better team, but this game could be an interesting way to close out Friday night.

Indiana players to watch

• Mackenzie Holmes, senior: Holmes was a first-team All-Big Ten selection but suffered an injury in Indiana's season finale against Maryland and remains day-to-day. There's a good chance she doesn't play — or sees limited action — to avoid aggravating the injury before the NCAA Tournament. She's averaging 20.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
• Sara Scalia, senior: The second-leading scorer for the Hoosiers and an excellent 3-point shooter, Scalia can create space on the floor. She was particularly effective in Indiana's win over Iowa, scoring 25 points in the upset victory. You can't give her too much space or she'll knock the open shot.
• Chloe Moore-McNeil, senior: Moore-McNeil helps Indiana in a variety of ways on the floor. She's capable of putting the ball in the hoop but also has done a nice job of distributing the wealth, dishing out 4.9 assists per game on the year. She's also responsible for 1.3 steals per game on the year, getting the job done defensively, too.

Michigan players to watch

• Laila Phelia, junior: Phelia is Michigan's top scorer, averaging 16 points per game. She was a first-team All-Big Ten selection at the end of the regular season, largely because of her effectiveness on both ends of the floor. She's also one of the team's top defenders, averaging 1.3 steals per game.
• Lauren Hansen, senior: Teams will have to keep an eye on Hansen regardless of where she stands on the floor. She's shooting nearly 42% from the floor and is a 36.5% 3-point shooter this season. Small note, but Hansen also hasn't missed a free throw since Jan. 31.
• Jordan Hobbs, junior: Hobbs is a solid all-around player for the Wolverines and is the top passer with 2.9 assists per game. She's also been a reliable guard, shooting at a 43.2% clip and logging nearly 29 minutes per game, the second-highest average on the team.

Related Big Ten stories

• HOLMES, SCALIA VOTED CONSENSUS BIG TEN FIRST TEAM: Holmes and Scalia were consensus picks for the All-Big Ten First Team. Holmes was chosen unanimously by the coaches and the media. CLICK HERE
• MOREN PROVIDES UPDATE ON HOLMES, MEISTER: Mackenzie Holmes and Lilly Meister both exited Sunday's win over Maryland with injuries, and head coach Teri Moren updated their status Monday. CLICK HERE