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TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - LIV Golf made it’s way to The Gallery Golf Club in Marana for it’s inaugural tournament in Southern Arizona. It’s the new professional tour that started last year to rival the PGA tournament.

With controversy surrounding the tournament, people who attended said they loved the first day of the tournament.

“I think it’s fun.. it’s great, it’s like a big party or a carnival with the music and games and people yelling and cheering,” spectator Dennis Headley said.

The tour came under fire when a Saudi investment firm paid millions of dollars to some of the world’s best golfers to defect from the PGA. LIV Golf now rivals the PGA with a new take on golf but that didn’t push people away.

“The atmosphere, the environment, the music, the crowd, it’s gonna be an awesome day,” spectator Derrick Lopez said.

There was pickleball, a chipping challenge and music for people to enjoy.

“I love it so far, it’s super welcoming, the staff is great, I think as far as the setup of this golf course, you have the music in the background, there’s a lot of cool activities in the front,” spectator Rich Pineda said.

On the course, professionals like Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and even Phil Mickelson drew big crowds.

“You come here and you just want to see how good they are in person and have fun,” spectator Erik Alvarez said.

Some say this is the best thing to grow the game of golf in a while.

“I just started golfing last year, so it’s actually really cool to see how the sport has grown overall,” Pineda said. “I thought it was just an old guys sport but what they’re doing out here is actually pretty cool.”

The day kicked off with Navy Seals parachuting onto the 18th fairway.

“Oh my golly that was just worth the price of admission just seeing the frogmen,” spectator Chicken Headley said.

Round two starts Saturday at 10:15 a.m. but the fan village gets going at 8 a.m. and there are still tickets available.

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No. 2-seed Maryland women’s basketball cruised to its 18th consecutive opening-round victory under head coach Brenda Frese Friday, taking down No. 15-seed Holy Cross, 91-63.

The Terps never let Holy Cross crawl within 20 points after the opening quarter, holding the Crusaders to a 35% clip from the field Friday afternoon.

Next up is a round of 32 matchup against No. 7-seed Arizona, Frese’s alma mater. The Wildcats took down No. 10-seed West Virginia, 75-62, prior to Maryland’s game Friday.

“How ironic, first of all, to get them all the way here in College Park, but [Arizona head coach] Adia Barnes and her staff, they’ll have them ready. They’re a great, great team,” Frese said of the Wildcats.

Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. Sunday, live on ESPN from the XFINITY Center.

Head coach Adia Barnes took over as head coach ahead of the 2016-17 season, and she has done a remarkable job making her alma mater one of the premier teams in the nation. The Wildcats have rattled off five straight 20-win seasons, which includes making the national championship game in 2021, where it lost by one point to Stanford.

Barnes has once again led the ‘Cats to another successful regular season, defeating five ranked opponents and finishing fifth in an ultra-competitive Pac-12 conference.

Arizona will look to avenge last year’s defeat in the round of 32, when it got blown out on its home court by fifth-seeded North Carolina.

Cate Reese, fifth-year forward, 6-foot-2, No. 25 — Reese has been one of Arizona’s best players — perhaps its best — since joining the squad as a five-star recruit in the 2018-19 season. She was instrumental during the Wildcats’ run to the 2021 title game, earning All-Pac-12 honors in that season. Reese was named an All-American honorable mention last season, and has followed that up with another solid campaign, averaging close to 13 points and six boards per game. The four-time All-Pac-12 selection looks to lead her team to another deep tournament run.

Shaina Pellington, fifth-year guard, 5-foot-8, No. 1 — Like Reese, Pellington was a member of the 2021 squad that lost to Stanford. The Ontario, Canada native is the most experienced player on the team, playing two successful seasons at Oklahoma before transferring to the Wildcats. She also represented Canada at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Pellington leads Arizona in scoring this season with 13.3 points per game, including a 35-point performance in an 82-72 upset win against then-No. 4 Utah.

Esmery Martinez, senior forward, 6-foot-2, No. 12 — The West Virginia transfer’s transition into the Pac-12 was seamless, cementing herself a starting role at the five spot for the Wildcats. The frontcourt of her and Reese has given smaller teams trouble this season, and she’s been a revelation on the defensive end. She’s started each game this season, averaging just under two rebounds shy of a double-double. She leads the team in rebounds and steals.

Championship pedigree. The Wildcats’ starting lineup is maybe the most experienced in the nation, with three seniors and two fifth-year players. Four players from their 2021 national runner-up squad are on the current roster. Arizona has had five-straight 20-win seasons, establishing itself as a formidable contender under Barnes.

Free throws. Despite having an above-average offense that ranks third in the conference at over 74 points per game, the Wildcats have struggled immensely from the free-throw line this season. They’re shooting free throws at a 68.6% clip, by far the worst in the Pac-12. Pennington, who has the most attempts from the charity stripe on the team, has made just over 60% of her attempts.

1. Can the Terps advance to their third straight Sweet 16? Maryland has beaten its last two round of 32 opponents by a combined 60 points, easily advancing to the Sweet 16. Seventh-seeded Arizona provides a unique challenge as a team that has advanced deep into the tournament in recent years, but the Terps have the advantage of playing at the XFINITY Center, where they look to win their 11th straight game there.

2. Maryland has struggled in the round of 32 against Pac-12 teams. The Terps have advanced to the Sweet 16 in eight of the past 10 seasons. Those two absences came courtesy of second-round losses to Pac-12 teams. They fell to UCLA in 2019, 89-85, and to a Kelsey Plum-led Washington team in 2016, 74-65.

3. Miller’s head-to-head matchup with Reese. Diamond Miller and Cate Reese are two of the best paint players in the tournament, and each have been doing it at the same school for their entire career. Reese tore it up against West Virginia in round one, scoring 25 points on 10-for-19 shooting. She’ll likely have the assignment of Miller defensively, with the latter looking to get her into foul trouble early.

+15000

No. 7 seed Arizona will face the second-seeded Maryland Terrapins in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. MST on ESPN.

The odds on DraftKings currently favor Maryland by eight points. The O/U is set at 146.

As for how the teams matchup, we reached out to our sister site Testudo Times to get the lowdown on the Terps. Damon Brooks, Jr. gives his answers to our questions about Arizona alumna Brenda Frese’s team.

Q: Maryland only lost two games at home this season. Against South Carolina, it’s obvious what happened, but what was the key to Nebraska’s win in College Park?

A: Maryland’s loss to Nebraska was sorta of a wake up call because it was there first Big Ten loss of the year. I believe the Terps struggled to defend the three point line evidenced by Nebraska’s 12-of-25 showing. Furthermore, Maryland struggled to contain the dribble penetration of Nebraska guard Jaz Shelley (29 points). Nebraska had four players in double figures and 21 total assists, which kept Maryland off balance, as the ball moved swiftly around the floor. The game was the driving force in Maryland embarking on a six game winning streak with a notable victory over then No. 6 UConn at home.

Q: In its opening round win, Arizona was able to get what it wanted inside both by the guards and the posts, which has usually been the winning formula for the Wildcats. How good has Maryland been at shutting down the paint this season and how do you think they can make that happen against Arizona?

A: Arizona did an excellent job with establishing forward Cate Reese (25 points) on the interior, which opened the floor for driving lanes for guard Shaina Pellington’s 18 point performance. It is no secret that this year’s Maryland team lacks adequate size, so they have utilized creative game plans to defend post players. Despite their size disadvantage, Maryland has been relatively solid with their interior defense. The Terps can cause havoc versus Arizona by making quick rotations on entry passes and defending without fouling. Maryland gets into trouble when they pick up cheap fouls and don’t communicate effectively on defense. It will be a challenge to deal with Reese’s presence, but I’m intrigued to see how they limit her effectiveness.

Q: In her post-game press conference, Brenda Frese said that the Pac-12 has great defensive teams and the Big 10 has great offensive teams. Maryland has been one of the best offensive teams in the country for years, but how is Maryland on the defensive end? What are the Terps’ biggest selling points on defense and are the 24 turnovers they forced against Holy Cross an anomaly?

A: Maryland is a defense that looks to force a bunch of turnovers that would ignite its transition offense. The Terps have exceptional length on the perimeter with six foot two guard Shyanne Sellers and six-foot guard Abby Meyers. Any five that head coach Brenda Frese trots onto the court typically plays with active hands and outstanding defensive activity. Like I’ve previously mentioned, the Terps are consistently looking to turn defense into offense, as they have several quick athletes with unique skill sets. In their game versus Holy Cross, Maryland started the game with an emphasis to set the tone on defense. They allowed four first quarter points along with 24 forced turnovers. Maryland forces 19.5 turnovers per game, so it’s safe to conclude that they’re an elite defensive team. While 24 is a little bit of a stretch in the NCAA Tournament, it wouldn’t surprise me if they enjoyed continued success in the turnover category.

Q: Diamond Miller is great at 19.5 ppg and 6.5 rpg, but if there’s one other player who has to play well—whether on offense, defense or the boards—to get this win, who is that and why?

A: I think it’s Maryland sophomore guard Shyanne Sellers. She’s made a significant leap this season, increasing her point total from 7.7 to 13.8. When Sellers arrived in College Park a year ago, her defensive abilities was arguably the best in the Big Ten. Sellers has outstanding defensive instincts and exceptional lateral movement, so she’s able to harass defenders for the entire 40 minutes. But Sellers has shined with more ball handling responsibilities, as she’s decisive in scoring or finding teammates for scoring opportunities. The sophomore guard has scored in double figures 25 times and has proven to make plays in the clutch. Sellers drilled a game-winning three versus Purdue earlier in the season paving the way for a solid second season with the Terps.

Q: How do you think the game will go and do you have a score prediction?

A: I think the game will be very competitive from the onset. Two experienced teams. Two talented coaches in Brenda Frese and Adia Barnes. I think Diamond Miller will look to put on a show in what’s expected as her last game at XFINITY Center in College Park. With a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line, I think Maryland creates separation in the third, eventually cruising to a 79-68 victory.

#2-Seed Maryland (26-6)

vs.

#7-Seed Arizona (22-9)

NCAA Tournament First Round March 19, 2023 5:30 PM ET XFINITY Center (College Park, MD) ESPN Live Stats Game Notes

COLLEGE PARK, MD -- The Maryland women's basketball team (26-6) will take on No. 7-seeded Arizona (22-9) Sunday in the NCAA Round of 32 at the XFINITY Center. The Terps and the Wildcats will tip off at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday's game will be televised on ESPN. For tickets, click here. The top four seeds in the bracket in Greenville 1 Region are No. 1 South Carolina, No. 2 Maryland, No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 4 UCLA.

Parking

Parking will be open to the public in lots 4b, 6 (Terrapin Trail Garage), 9b, 11b all day on Sunday, March 19. Click here for a campus parking map. Please note:

Clear Bag Policy

Fans will only be able to carry the following style and size bag into XFINITY Center, all of which are subject to search.

Click here to view the full clear bag policy.

Download Your Tickets

For easy access into XFINITY Center, we advise downloading your tickets to your digital wallet prior to arriving on campus. Click the link below to access your digital tickets via your My Account page. Your tickets will only be accessible via mobile smartphone – they will not display on a computer.

For step by step instructions on how to download your tickets or to view the Mobile Ticket FAQ please click here.

2022-23 STORYLINES

What's UP

NCAA tournament history

frese file

Maryland in the b1g

terps in the polls

Click here for this week's game notes.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- — When Shaina Pellington left the game with four fouls early in the third quarter, Arizona didn't miss a beat.

In fact, freshman Kailyn Gilbert helped the Wildcats pull away.

Cate Reese scored 25 points and Esmery Martinez had a double-double against her former team, leading seventh-seeded Arizona to a 75-62 victory over 10th-seeded West Virginia in the women's NCAA Tournament on Friday. The Wildcats went on a 16-3 run in the second half with Pellington on the bench.

“To be honest, I did not know how to take it at first, because I thought I wasn’t even going to go back in,” Gilbert said. “But then I was like, ‘You know what? I work hard every day. I’m in the gym. These are the moments I work for and I feel like I’m made for.’ I was just going to go in and have energy.”

Gilbert scored five points in 14:05, the longest outing for the 5-foot-8 guard since Jan. 29.

The Wildcats (22-9) started fast and never trailed, and will next play second-seeded Maryland. Arizona entered the tournament on a three-game losing streak, but had a couple weeks off before this matchup.

The Wildcats seemed refreshed early on, shooting 72% from the field in the first quarter. West Virginia was holding opponents to 61 points per game this season, but Arizona looked ready to breeze past that after just one quarter and a 28-17 lead.

“Anything we tried to get into from a defensive standpoint, we really had a hard time slowing them down,” West Virginia coach Dawn Plitzuweit said.

The Mountaineers (19-12) eventually settled in. It was a seven-point game at halftime, and Arizona's lead was down to three early in the third. Pellington picked up her third and fourth fouls a few seconds apart in the third, but after two free throws by West Virginia made it 42-39, Arizona eventually pulled away again.

It was 61-51 after a foul-filled third quarter, and then the Wildcats scored the first seven points of the fourth. It was 68-57 when Pellington finally returned; she finished with 18 points.

Martinez, who played three seasons at West Virginia before transferring to Arizona, had 13 points and 12 rebounds.

“I knew she was a little bit more nervous today because I think she really had the itch to do well. I knew something was going on because she was talking to the doctor to get some Pepto or something because of her stomach, so that told me nerves right away," Wildcats coach Adia Barnes said. “I’m proud of her today because the difficult thing for Esmery all year has been staying out of foul trouble, not going for blocks, and she had one foul.”

JJ Quinerly led West Virginia with 19 points.

BIG PICTURE

West Virginia: Plitzuweit guided South Dakota to the Sweet 16 last year, but a run like that didn't materialize with the Mountaineers. They were playing catch-up from the start.

Arizona: The Wildcats were in the national title game two seasons ago, so a No. 7 seed isn't exactly what they had in mind, but they were able to impose their will offensively for long enough to win comfortably in this one.

AVOIDING MISTAKES

West Virginia had only seven turnovers but was undone by 31% shooting.

“I’m proud of our young ladies because we battled back. In a lot of ways, we took care of the basketball against one of the best teams in the country at turning opponents over," Plitzuweit said. “We got a lot of really good looks. Unfortunately for us, we are not a team that shoots it at an incredibly high percentage.”

AT THE LINE

Almost half the scoring in the third quarter came on free throws. West Virginia went 10 of 14 and Arizona was 8 for 8.

UP NEXT

Arizona: Lost at home in the second round last year to North Carolina. Now the Wildcats will be playing a road game against Maryland.

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Follow Noah Trister at https://twitter.com/noahtrister

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AP March Madness coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP--Top25