2024 NCAA Women's Tournament scores, highlights, results: USC, UConn and Notre Dame cruise into Sweet 16

The field is down to just 16 teams after play wrapped up on Monday night

The waning hours of the NCAA Women's Tournament's Round of 32 saw the sport's biggest star nearly fall, while the player who seems destined to follow her path to greatness led a resounding win. 

Caitlin Clark and Iowa avoided a shocking upset in the senior's final game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Fighting through a physical West Virginia defense, the top-seeded Hawkeyes closed their second-round matchup on a 12-2 run over the final 2:03 to win 64-54, advancing them to a Sweet 16 game against No. 5 seed Colorado. 

It wasn't the most efficient Clark shooting night, but it was a historic one. A pair of free throws to ice the game late gave Clark the single-season scoring record in women's Division I (1,111 points). Overall, Clark went 8-for-22 for a game-high 32 points, adding eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. Hannah Stuelke was impactful down low with 12 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. 

While Clark and Co. sat on the verge of defeat, USC's victory was never in doubt. The top-seeded Trojans found an early lead over No. 8 seed Kansas and rolled to a 73-55 win. JuJu Watkins is continuing to blossom into a superstar in real time, and Monday she tallied 28 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Clarice Akunwafo provided incredible energy off the bench, as she pulled down nine rebounds, three steals and six blocks. 

Earlier Monday, UConn and Notre Dame collected wins over Syracuse and Ole Miss, respectively. The Huskies avoided a late comeback push to win their second-round game, and Paige Bueckers led the way with 32 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Maddy Westbeld spearheaded the Fighting Irish's double-digit win with 20 points. 

2024 NCAA Women's Tournament TV schedule

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(2) Notre Dame 71, (7) Ole Miss 56	(3) NC State 79, (6) Tennessee 72
(3) UConn 72, (6) Syracuse 64	(4) Indiana 75, (5) Oklahoma 68
(1) Iowa 64, (8) West Virginia 54	(2) UCLA 67, (7) Creighton 63
(1) USC 73, (8) Kansas 55	(4) Gonzaga 77, (5) Utah 66

CBS Sports was with you the entire way updating this story with the latest from every second round game on Monday. Thanks for stopping by.

[Mar 26, 2024 at 12:48 am ET · Isabel Gonzalez]

(4) Gonzaga 77, (5) Utah 66

Gonzaga took advantage of home court advantage and the Zags are now advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015. As the last team from a mid-major conference remaining, Gonzaga did not back down from the challenge of facing a tough Utah team that includes Alissa Pili, one of the top 20 scorers in the nation. Pili's college career has officially come to and end, but she can be proud of an effort that included 35 points and seven rebounds on Monday.

The Zags' offensive depth showed with four players scoring in double figures. Senior guard Kayleigh Truong led them all with 21 points. Senior forward Yvonne Ejim put up 17 points and 13 rebounds. 

[Mar 26, 2024 at 12:31 am ET · Isabel Gonzalez]

JuJu Watkins is playing like a veteran

The USC freshman averaged 25.5 points and eight rebounds in her first two NCAA Tournament games. In the first-round win against Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Watkins broke Cheryl Miller's USC single-season scoring record -- which the Hall of Famer set in 1986.

[Mar 26, 2024 at 12:20 am ET · Isabel Gonzalez]

The last time the USC Trojans went to the Sweet 16 was 1994 with Cheryl Miller as the head coach. This is Lindsay Gottlieb's third season at the helm of the program, and she is already building something special in Los Angeles. 

[Mar 26, 2024 at 12:16 am ET · Isabel Gonzalez]

(1) USC 73, (8) Kansas 55

The Trojans are heading to their first Sweet 16 since 1994. Freshman star JuJu Watkins registered a game-high 28 points while also putting up 11 rebounds for her eight double-double of the season. Senior guard McKenzie Forbes was also a top contributor with 20 points. 

The Jayhawks put up a good fight in the second and third quarters, but their efforts fell short against a tough USC program. It is the 15th time this season the Trojans allow fewer than 60 points. Senior center Taiyanna Jackson put up 10 points and an impressive 18 rebounds. Freshman S'Mya Nichols showed the future is bright for Kansas with 22 points. 

Up next, USC will travel to Portland to take on the Baylor Bears.

[Mar 25, 2024 at 11:54 pm ET · Isabel Gonzalez]

USC started the fourth quarter outscoring the Jaykahwis 9-2, and now the Trojans hold a 62-48 advantage with under six minutes remaining. Freshman JuJu Watkins is leading USC with 21 points and needs just two more rebounds for a double-double. 

[Mar 25, 2024 at 11:39 pm ET · Isabel Gonzalez]

(4) Gonzaga 41, (5) Utah 31 | Halftime 

The Zags are the only team from a non-power six conference still playing in the NCAA Tournament, and so far they are representing mid-majors in an excellent way. As a team, they are shooting 57.7% from the field while spreading their offense. Six players are registering at least two points, with Kayle Truong leading the way with 12 points going 4-for-6 from the field. Utah is hanging around while star forward Alissa Pili leads its offense with 15 points going 5-for-6, including two 3-pointers.