2025 Central Region - Women

[Purple Mav Man]

#1 Pittsburg St. vs. #8 Harding
#4 Missouri Western vs. #5 Minnesota St.
#2 Concordia-St. Paul vs. #7 Southwest Minn. St.
#3 Fort Hays St. vs. #6 Southern Nazarene

Pitt definitely seems like the team to beat. I don’t see many upsets happening, but when March hits, you never know.

First round pretty chalk, expect I’ll take the Mavs over MW. I think Pitt and Hays roll. CSP/SW and MSU/MW could be decent games.

[GHawks]

I would take MSU over MW as well, although this MSU team is much more beatable.

This is a rematch from last year’s first round game. Gotta be a little frustrating for MW that they keep drawing this very unique matchup, they are probably just wanting to play a normal basketball game in the NCAA tournament at this point but instead they keep drawing chaos.

[D2Rover]

Hays has looked off since Dilsaver went out, but I think they're still better than SNU and will be able to beat CSP.

Pitt is the clear favorite, but I don't think any game is easy in this region - Harding is rolling out effectively the same line-up that knocked out Pitt last year. I do think they are better equipped to handle the inevitable foul trouble that comes with tourney officiating.

Missouri Western is a whole new team this year. They should be able to handle the Mankato press, Bonilla is pretty reliable at point guard and it's a generally pretty composed team. Will come down to hitting or missing three-pointers.

Unless Pitt blows out Harding, I don't see a bad matchup from a neutral perspective the whole way. Should be an entertaining weekend.

[Predatory Primates]

MW is kind of Jeckyl and Hyde. Pitt's all about experience and depth, and Hays is athletic AF.


I don't know a ton about the other teams in the region.

[LukeMcConnell1]

6/8 teams the same from last year's Central Region Tournament. Clear hierarchy right now in the region overall. I think SNU-Hays will be a defensive slugfest, but I don't think SNU can score enough to win it. Will be packing to stay til Tuesday regardless!

Harding-Pitt is intriguing because personnel is VERY similar to last year's Harding win. Bisons aren't as deep as last year (all five starters play at least 31 minutes), but they're plenty good. Should be a good one.

[Purple Mav Man]

Ft Hays and Southwest MN movement from the early session. They’ll meet tomorrow at 5pm.

[LukeMcConnell1]

Solid showing from the Storm today. Before the game, if you'd told me we'd score 72 points, I'd have assumed we won. Hays is really good. Just couldn't get enough stops. I was NOT impressed with CSP at all. Not sure what that says about SW MN, either. Thought they were ok overall. I'd expect Hays to win that one. Pitt State-Harding was indeed fun, but the Bisons went cold in the second half. Pitt's offense is outrageous when it's clicking. Shot 80%+ in two quarters today. The Mankato-MWest game was an abomination. Just not an enjoyable game to watch.

[Purple Mav Man]

#3 Fort Hays St. vs. #7 Southwest Minn. St. 5:00pm CDT
#1 Pittsburg St. vs. #5 Minnesota St. 7:30pm CDT

[Purple Mav Man]

Two strengths facing off in the Pitt/Mankato game.

Pitt averages only 12.7 TOs/game (12.8 ppg against)
Mankato forces 27.7 TOs/game (30.5 ppg from)

This will likely be the story. That along with keeping Pyle from making a bunch of 3s, and rebounding the misses.

[laker]

Southwest advances. Mavs to play in a few minutes.

[ucmjennies]

Mavs up 54-41 at halftime over host Pitt State. Pitt looks very frustrated.

[Purple Mav Man]

Ugh. Thats why hosting is important. Mavs win on neutral floor. Just too many fouls in the second half and no answer for Gerber.

[gorillum]

What a game! Mankato is tough, and Bursch is quite the player. Pitt fought through a lot of adversity and pulled it out somehow. Gerber would not be denied in the 2nd half.

[ucmjennies]

I think losing Bursch will be tough to overcome for next year but she is the only starter the Mavs lose. The Mavs will be back and congrats to Pitt State, Gerber was phenomenal in the 2nd half.

[Predatory Primates]

What a game! Mankato is tough, and Bursch is quite the player. Pitt fought through a lot of adversity and pulled it out somehow. Gerber would not be denied in the 2nd half.

It was a blast to watch. Pyle had an off shooting day, but her leadership was key.

Gerber woke up in Q3 and became her undefendable self.