Latest news with #Eights
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
March Madness: Hailey Van Lith's takeover lifts TCU to first-ever Elite Eight — 'She's in the fight ... and she loves it'
March Madness: Hailey Van Lith's takeover lifts TCU to first-ever Elite Eight — 'She's in the fight ... and she loves it' BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — You don't invite a fight if you don't know with absolute certainty you're the top dog. And Hailey Van Lith is all dawg. 'At the end of the day, I think in my DNA I impact winning,' Van Lith said on Friday, an understatement on a collegiate career still acquiring accolades. Advertisement Playing the Notre Dame program known as 'Guard U,' the fifth-year guard showed out as the best one on the floor. In the first quarter, she put on moves to beat Hannah Hidalgo on the baseline. In the third, she stood stock still in a silent flex of a brick wall after blocking Hidalgo's drive into the lane. By the time Van Lith threw her arms in the air at the final buzzer and chest-bumped Sedona Prince at halfcourt, she had blood on her left elbow and right knee. 'Hailey's our competitor,' Prince said. 'She's in the fight. If you've ever seen her arms all season, it's every game [they're scratched up] and she loves it. She is ready to fight and fight out wins for us.' Hailey Van Lith had plenty of reasons to celebrate after leading TCU to its first-ever Elite Eight. () (Greg Fiume via Getty Images) Van Lith led all scorers with 26 points in a 71-62 win that extended the program's record tournament run to the Elite Eight. She turned the aggression up in the fourth quarter when she scored 12 points, disrupted the Irish defensively and led a 20-10 frame that ended Notre Dame's season. Advertisement 'Hailey is a dawg, regardless if it's the offensive end or defensive end,' Madison Conner said. 'Regardless, she is going to do anything it takes to win. She has a competitive edge.' A year ago at LSU, Van Lith drew the tall task of primarily guarding Caitlin Clark in the Elite Eight loss to Iowa. Clark, the NCAA's all-time leading scorer, went off for 41 points and Van Lith took the brunt of the blame. On Saturday, she had a steal and a block and contributed to a long 10-of-44 day for Notre Dame's heralded guard trio of Hidalgo, Miles and Sonia Citron. The 31.9% outing as a team is the worst of Notre Dame's season, barely edging out its November loss to TCU. That was Notre Dame's first loss of the year. 'One of the narratives with Hailey coming into the year at the highest level is can she defend?' TCU head coach Mark Campbell said. 'I mean, gosh dang, she is an elite defender. I don't know where that came from, but with us she laces them up and she wants to guard the other team's best player and she does it. It's not like you're trying to hide Hailey.' Advertisement No. 2 seeded TCU is heading into its first Elite Eight, where it will play either No. 1 Texas or No. 4 Tennessee, but Van Lith is well versed in the ways of a regional final. She's never missed the round in her five-year career that spanned Louisville, LSU and the Horned Frogs. 'Five Elite Eights at three different schools is insane,' Campbell said, interrupting his three star players on the post-game interview dais. 'There's no way that's ever been done.' It hasn't, on either the men's or women's side as the era of an extra COVID year comes to a close. A total 663 points in a single season wearing a TCU jersey also hasn't been done. Neither has 202 assists, a career-high for Van Lith. Advertisement Van Lith spoke at length on Friday about her newfound confidence as a member of the Horned Frogs. How it took a minute for Campbell to patiently tap through a wall. 'She's so much more confident now,' Prince said. 'At the beginning of the year, she hesitated on shots, or you could tell she was maybe kind of in her head a little bit. It was a constant thing of keeping [her shooting]. Keep doing your thing like you are. You are her, like you were a baller. You are so deeply talented.' Said Van Lith, 'At this point I just have ultimate confidence and faith in myself to compete at an intense level.' Van Lith has always been a dawg who will pour in 26 points. She'll stare a shooter down on the perimeter in a way that can shake their confidence. Then she'll turn drain a massive 3-pointer and backtrack down the court throwing a chef's kiss. Advertisement It led her to five Elite Eights, one Final Four and potentially by Monday night, another trip to the final weekend. This team might be the most well constructed to make that run, with a veteran who has learned how to balance lifting her own game and that of those next to her. 'I've evolved into someone who just loves to win,' Van Lith said. 'So I really think that's my essence.'
Observer
06-02-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Royal Court Affairs, Ministry of Education in final of Eights tourney
Muscat: The Royal Court Affairs (RCA) team has secured a place in the final of the Government Institutions Eights Football Championship after defeating the State Audit Institution with a 2-1 victory. Similarly, the Ministry of Education earned their spot in the final by overcoming the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MoTCIT) with a 4-1 win in a match hosted at Al Amal Club Stadium. The championship final is set to take place on February 24. The match started at a fast pace, with the State Audit Institution surprising their opponents with an early goal in the first minute. Azzan al Kindi capitalised on a defensive lapse to put his team ahead. Following the goal, RCA tried to regain control and impose their rhythm but faced strong defensive resistance from the State Audit Institution, who relied on quick counter-attacks. Azzan al Kindi almost doubled the lead after breaking through on goal, but the defence and goalkeeper managed to deny him. Meanwhile, RCA intensified their attacking efforts, with their most dangerous chance coming from a powerful shot by Taisir al Alawi, which narrowly missed the post. The relentless pressure paid off in the 14th minute, when Taisir al Alawi successfully equalised, bringing the match back to level terms. The two teams continued to exchange attacks but failed to add more goals before half-time, which ended 1-1. Both teams started the second half seeking to break the deadlock. The opening minutes saw chances for both sides, but solid defensive displays and goalkeeping heroics kept the score level. As the match neared its conclusion, Qasim al Abdulsalam netted a decisive winning goal for RCA, securing a 2-1 victory and leading his team to the championship final. Royal Court Affairs, Ministry of Education in final of Eights tourney CONVINCING WIN The second semifinal was evenly contested in the opening minutes, with both teams exchanging attacks in search of an early breakthrough. However, neither side managed to break the deadlock until the 19th minute, when Mahmoud al Shaidi found the back of the net, giving the Ministry of Education a crucial lead before half-time. MoTCIT entered the second half with a clear attacking intent, determined to level the score. They created several chances, the most notable being a powerful strike by Waleed al Rawahi in the 22nd minute, which narrowly missed the target. The Ministry of Education responded swiftly with a counter-attack, led by Mahmoud al Shaidi, whose powerful shot was blocked by the goalkeeper. However, Yusuf bin Mubarak al Hinai capitalised on the rebound, slotting home the second goal in the 24th minute. Just a few minutes later, Muaid al Khadhouri reignited hopes for his team with a low-driven shot in the 29th minute, cutting the deficit to 2-1. However, the Ministry of Education quickly regained control, as Mahmoud al Shaidi scored his second goal in the 30th minute, extending the lead to 3-1. Two minutes later, Yusuf al Hinai punished a defensive error by Waleed al Rawahi, launching a fast break and scoring the fourth goal, sealing a dominant 4-1 victory. The match concluded with both teams continuing to push forward, but the Ministry of Education secured a well-deserved win, setting up an anticipated final against RCA for the championship title.
