Women’s College Basketball: January 7, 2026 — Statement Wins, Monster Nights, and Conference Chaos
Women’s College Basketball: January 7, 2026 — Statement Wins, Monster Nights, and Conference Chaos
Wednesday, January 7, 2026 delivered the kind of midweek women’s college basketball slate that flips standings, sparks fanbases, and puts the entire country on alert. From a top-ranked heavyweight handling business, to road upsets that reshaped conference conversations, the night was loaded with big-time performances and “wait… they did WHAT?” moments.
UConn sends a message at home
#1 UConn didn’t play around against St. John’s, rolling to an 88–43 win. Sarah Strong set the tone with 24 points, while St. John’s got a strong push from Beautiful Waheed (14 pts). For the Huskies, it was a reminder that when they’re locked in defensively and running clean offense, the margin can get ugly fast.
Cincinnati stuns Iowa State in a ranked upset
One of the night’s biggest results: Cincinnati 71, #11 Iowa State 63. Mya Perry dropped 26 points to power the Bearcats, while Audi Crooks answered with 23 in the loss. This one wasn’t just a win—it was a statement, and it’s the type of result that changes how teams get scouted moving forward.
TCU protects home floor; Ohio State gets a 41-piece
#13 TCU handled Oklahoma State 69–61 behind Olivia Miles (20 pts), while OSU countered with Jadyn Wooten (25 pts) in a tough road loss.
Meanwhile, #19 Ohio State took down Illinois 78–69, and the headline was loud: Jaloni Cambridge exploded for 41 points. That’s not a “good game”—that’s a takeover.
Texas Tech wins a gritty road battle
#17 Texas Tech earned a big one away from home: TTU 71, West Virginia 66. Bailey Maupin led with 27, and WVU got 22 from Jordan Harrison. Those are the kinds of road wins that separate contenders from “pretty good” teams once conference play tightens up.
The mid-major grind: close finishes and clutch moments
This slate had plenty of tight, tournament-style games:
Richmond 84, Fordham 65 — Rachel Ullstrom 27 paced Richmond’s strong offensive night.
American 59, Colgate 56 (OT) — Charlotte Tuhy 17, while Ella Meabon put up 20 in the loss.
Lehigh 60, Holy Cross 57 — Lily Fandre 23 delivered the edge.
Winthrop 66, USC Upstate 64 — Amourie Porter 25 in a two-point thriller.
Nevada 70, Wyoming 60 (OT) — overtime drama with Skylar Durley 18 and Henna Sandvik 18.
And if you like defense-heavy games, Davidson 48, Saint Joseph’s 36 was a grind where every bucket mattered.
Individual performances that jumped off the page
If you’re tracking who’s hot, January 7 served a full menu:
Timaya Lewis-Eutsey (Marshall) — 33 points in a 77–70 win over Old Dominion
Tess Heal (Kansas State) — 31 points in a 71–62 win at Houston
Caelan Ellis (Charleston Southern) — 26 points (even in the loss to Longwood)
Daejah Richmond (Memphis) — 23 points vs Florida Atlantic
Laila Abdurraqib (New Mexico) — 25 points in a road win at Colorado State
Natalie Pasco (Boise State) — 24 points vs Air Force
What the night really told us
1) Rankings don’t travel well. Cincinnati’s win over Iowa State was the loudest proof.
2) Star power is deciding outcomes. Cambridge’s 41 and Heal’s 31 were instant “put the team on my back” moments.
3) Road wins in January matter. Texas Tech’s grit at WVU is the kind of result teams point to in March.
