Tourney Time: Just Facts

[RegisteredUconn]

The NCAA first sanctioned a women's basketball tourney for the purpose of crowning a national champion in 1982. This year will mark the 37th iteration of this competition. Here are some facts about the first 36 years.

• 286 different teams have participated.
• 1988 games have been played.
• The highest score ever recorded was 121 points by Alabama in a quadruple overtime win over Duke.
• The second highest score ever recorded was 120 points by Duke in a quadruple overtime loss to Alabama.
• Three teams have scored fewer that 30 points in a game:
  • In 2012, Kansas State scored 26 points.
  • In 2006, Southern scored 27 points.
  • In 2010, Long Island scored 29 points.
• 59 times teams have scored 100 or more points in a game. 57 of those teams won; 2 lost. In addition to Duke, Oklahoma scored 100 points but lost to a DePaul team that scored 104.
• The largest margin of victory was 89 points in Baylor's 116-30 win over Texas Southern last year.
• 74 games are tied for the smallest margin of victory at 1 point.
• 55 times games have gone into overtime. 3 of those overtime games have gone multiple overtime periods. In addition to the 4 overtime epic between Duke and Alabama in 1995, Dayton needed 2 overtimes to subdue St. John's in 2013, as did Vanderbilt to best Kansas in 2000. Tennessee has played 6 overtime games followed by Notre Dame with 5 and Oklahoma State and UConn with 4 each. Tennessee has the most overtime wins with 5, followed by ND with 4, and Oklahoma State, George Washington, and Old Dominion with 3 each. UConn has the most losses with 4, all of which have come in the tournament semi-finals. (That's right, we've lost everyone of our overtime outings. Hope that makes all the haters feel better.)

The table below lists the 31 teams that have played the most games in tournament history. The cutoff point for that last team included, Texas A&M, was made to include all 15 teams that have won at least 1 championship.

 

[Frenchy]

Thanks for the stats. Yes Uconn is 0-4 when playing OT in NCAA tournament, but is 11-0 in Championship games. I like the odds.

 

[mbr33ct]

Is it me or just a coincidence, the largest victory margin (NCAA Tournament), 116-30 (Texas Southern) or setting NCAA D1 record 140-32 (Winthrop)...Baylor is involved...where's Phil Mushnick when he's needed?

 

[RegisteredUconn]

As far as I know, it's tomorrow (Monday) night on ESPN at 7:00 pm.

 

[RegisteredUconn]

Is it me or just a coincidence, the largest victory margin (NCAA Tournament), 116-30 (Texas Southern) or setting NCAA D1 record 140-32 (Winthrop)...Baylor is involved...where's Phil Mushnick when he's needed?

Just a guess, but maybe it's both you and a coincidence.

 

[DefenseBB]

Is it me or just a coincidence, the largest victory margin (NCAA Tournament), 116-30 (Texas Southern) or setting NCAA D1 record 140-32 (Winthrop)...Baylor is involved...where's Phil Mushnick when he's needed?

Who? Oh, that guy, he’s dead to me...

 

[nwhoopfan]

Any idea about highest scoring total in regulation? Probably Baylor's 116 in that largest winning margin game noted above. I saw 108 points put on the board in regulation last year--UW vs. Oklahoma. A little surprised to see UW on the list, although everyone below them will be gaining on them this season.

 

[RegisteredUconn]

Any idea about highest scoring total in regulation? Probably Baylor's 116 in that largest winning margin game noted above. I saw 108 points put on the board in regulation last year--UW vs. Oklahoma. A little surprised to see UW on the list, although everyone below them will be gaining on them this season.

You are correct, that Baylor score last year was the highest score recorded in a regulation game. One problem I noticed is that I made a typo on that point. Baylor actually scored 119 points in that game otherwise the margin of victory doesn't work. Duh.

After Baylor's 119 points, three games are tied at 116. Ohio State (1988) and UConn twice (2000 and 2017).