The first step to the Final Four commences on Wednesday, with two First Four games tipping off the action from the 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament.

First up on the 11-seed line are Iowa State (22-11) and Princeton, with the winner advancing to play 6 seed Michigan. Will the Cyclones’ Audi Crooks, a sensation in women’s March Madness last year, be able to lead a similarly impressive run for Iowa State and Co., starting with a Princeton team that went 21-7 and finished second in the Ivy League?

IT’S BRACKET MADNESS: Enter USA TODAY’s Bracket Challenge contest for a chance at $1 million prize

Following that game, UC San Diego (20-15) and Southern (20-14), champions of the Big West and SWAC tournaments, respectively, will face off from Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles for the right to advance and face No. 1 overall seed UCLA.

With that, follow along live for scores, updates and highlights from Wednesday’s women’s First Four action:

WOMEN’S BRACKET MADNESS: Enter USA TODAY’s Women’s Bracket Challenge for a chance at $1 million prize.

Women’s First Four score updates

This section will be updated when games tip off.

TEAMS1Q2Q3Q4QFSouthern1921UC San Diego119

TEAMS1Q2Q3Q4QFIowa State187271668Princeton112791663

Women’s First Four live updates

Southern leads 40-20 at halftime

Southern takes a 40-20 lead into the second half after a dominant showing through two quarters, led by Reed’s 19 points and a stellar 8-of-9 shooting. Aniya Gourdine also scored 10.

UC San Diego is shooting just 8 of 28 from the field and 2 of 10 from 3-point range.

Southern pulling away

Southern finding its groove in the second quarter, as it grabs a 27-13 lead. The Jaguars are holding UC San Diego to poor shooting so far, as the Tritons are 5 of 17 shooting to Southern’s 11 of 17 shooting.

Southern leads 17-11 after 1st quarter

Despite both teams struggling to score through the first half of the first quarter, both teams found their groove offensively. It’s Southern, though, that takes a 19-11 lead into the second quarter.

Southern’s Soniyah Reed leads all scorers with 11 points on 4-of-4 shooting with three 3-pointers off the bench.

Southern, UC San Diego tip off

The second First Four game of the women’s NCAA Tournament is underway, as Southern and UC San Diego tip off.

The winner gets a chance at UCLA in the Los Angeles Regional.

Iowa State holds strong, wins 68-63

Iowa State holds strong, earning a 68-63 win over Princeton in the First Four. The Cyclones will face 6-seed Michigan on Friday.

Audi Crooks leads the way with 27 points for the Cyclones, 18 of which came in the second half. Addy Brown was also stellar, with 22 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.

Iowa State, Princeton trading buckets in 4th quarter

Princeton not going away without a fight, as the Tigers have already outscored their output from the third quarter with 10 points in the fourth so far.

Iowa State has also scored 10, however, as the Cyclones hold a 62-57 lead midway through the final period.

Crooks leads all scorers with 23 points on 11 of 18 shooting.

Iowa State leads 52-47 after 3 quarters

What a response for Iowa State, which outscores Princeton 27-9 to take a 52-47 lead into the fourth quarter. Emily Ryan’s jumper as time expires makes it 27 points in the quarter, as the Cyclones outscore Princeton 27-7 in the third.

Brown and Crooks lead the way with 22 and 15 points, respectively.

Iowa State takes lead

They say basketball is a game of runs, and this one has been exactly that so far. Iowa State has outscored Princeton 20-4 so far in the third quarter to take a 46-42 lead with a few minutes left until the fourth quarter.

The run comes after Princeton outscored Iowa State 27-7 in the second quarter. Quite a change of events.

Iowa State starts 2nd half strong

The Cyclones shorten their deficit to 42-37 in the third quarter with a 12-4 run to start the second half.

Brown and Crooks are unstoppable right now, with 16 and 13 points each.

Princeton leads 38-25 at halftime

What a second quarter from Princeton, as the Tigers trailed 18-11 after the first quarter but outscore Iowa State 27-7 in the second period to take a 38-25 lead into halftime.

Chea and Fadima Tall have 15 and 10 points, respectively, whereas 20 of Iowa State’s 25 points have come from Brown and Crooks (11 and nine points, respectively).

Princeton ends the first half on a 14-0 run, completely shifting momentum heading into the second half.

Ashley Chea cooking for Princeton

What a quarter for Princeton’s Ashley Chea, has her two 3-pointers late in the first half have helped the Tigers to a 12-0 run in the second quarter.

Chea’s deep 3-pointer has her up to 15 points with three rebounds and two assists with three 3-pointers so far as Princeton leads 36-25.

Addy Brown, Audi Crooks leading way for Iowa State

Brown and Crooks are doing it all for Iowa State right now, as Brown enters double figures with 11 points so far after a driving layup. Crooks has also added nine points, as the duo has combined for 20 of the Cyclones’ 25 points.

Princeton leads 26-25, however, as it has outscored Iowa State 17-7 in the second quarter.

Princeton with 10-2 run to start 2nd quarter

Here comes Princeton. The Tigers start the second quarter with a 10-2 run to tie the game at 20.

Forward Fadima Tall is up to six points now for Princeton.

Cyclones take 18-11 lead into 2nd quarter

Iowa State has set the tone early, shooting 8 of 16 as a team behind Brown’s seven points and Crooks’ six points. Brown has also added two rebounds and three assists, as the Cyclones’ post presence has been too much for Princeton to handle through a quarter.

Iowa State leads early

The Cyclones lead 13-9 midway through the first quarter, with Iowa State’s Addy Brown already up to seven points.

Seven of Princeton’s nine points have come from Ashley Chea, who’s 3 of 5 shooting with seven points in the first quarter.

Women’s First Four 20 minutes from tip off

Iowa State and Princeton are getting set for the first women’s NCAA Tournament game this season, with star forward Audi Crooks leading the Cyclones against the Tigers’ Skye Belker and Co.

The winner faces Michigan in the first round of the Notre Dame Regional.

What is the First Four?

The First Four is essentially a play-in game for the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournament, where eight teams compete for four spots in the first round of March Madness. The eight teams are selected based on the NCAA Committee’s last four ranked at-large teams at last four ranked automatic qualifiers.

The two winners of the at-large First Four games earn 11 seeds, whereas the winners of the last four ranked automatic qualifiers take 16 seeds.

Women’s First Four times today

• Game 1: (11) Iowa State vs. (11) Princeton | 7 p.m. ET
• Game 2: (16) UC San Diego vs. (16) Southern | 9 p.m. ET

The first of Wednesday’s women’s First Four games, Iowa State vs. Princeton, is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET from the Purcell Pavilion in Notre Dame, Indiana. The winner will advance to play 6 seed Michigan.

The second game, UC San Diego vs. Southern, is scheduled to tip off at 9 p.m. ET from Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, with the winner advancing to face No. 1 overall seed UCLA.

Watch women’s First Four with Fubo (free trial)

What channels are women’s First Four games today?

Both of Wednesday’s games will air on ESPNU. Streaming options include March Madness Live and the ESPN app, which require valid cable logins. Another option is Fubo, which offers a free trial

Iowa State vs Princeton history

This will be Iowa State and Princeton’s first time meeting, according to both teams’ histories.

UC San Diego vs Southern history

This will be UC San Diego and Southern’s first time meeting, according to both teams’ histories.

Women’s First Four predictions

Iowa State vs Princeton

UC San Diego vs Southern

Women’s First Four betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Wednesday, March 19

Iowa State vs Princeton

• Spread: Iowa State (-4.5)
• Over/under: 136.5
• Moneyline: Iowa State (-210) | Princeton (+170)

UC San Diego vs Southern

• Spread: UC San Diego (-3.5)
• Over/under: 111.5
• Moneyline: UC San Diego (185) | Southern (+150)

Iowa State women’s basketball schedule 2024-25

Below are Iowa State’s five most recent games. For the Cyclones’ full schedule, click here.

• Saturday, Feb. 22: at Baylor (L, 67-62)
• Tuesday, Feb. 25: at UCF (W, 98-73)
• Sunday, March 2: vs. Kansas State (W, 85-63)
• Thursday, March 6: vs. Arizona State (W, 96-88) (Big 12 tournament)
• Friday, March 7: vs. Baylor (L, 69-63) (Big 12 tournament)

Princeton women’s basketball schedule 2024-25

Below are Princeton’s five most recent games. For the Tigers’ full schedule, click here.

• Saturday, Feb. 22: vs. Columbia (L, 64-60)
• Friday, Feb. 28: at Harvard (W, 70-58)
• Saturday, March 1: at Dartmouth (W, 67-55)
• Saturday, March 8: vs. Penn (W, 67-53)
• Friday, March 14: vs. Harvard (L, 70-67) (Ivy League tournament)

UC San Diego women’s basketball schedule 2024-25

Below are UC San Diego’s five most recent games. For the Tritons’ full schedule, click here.

• Thursday, March 6: at Long Beach (W, 82-51)
• Saturday, March 8: vs. UC Davis (L, 69-58)
• Thursday, March 13: vs. Cal Poly (W, 59-54) (Big West tournament)
• Friday, March 14: vs. Hawaii (W, 51-49) (Big West tournament)
• Saturday, March 15: vs. UC Davis (W, 75-66) (Big West tournament)

Southern women’s basketball schedule 2024-25

Below are Southern’s five most recent games. For the Jaguars’ full schedule, click here.

• Thursday, March 6: vs. Alabama State (W, 61-38)
• Saturday, March 8: vs. Alabama A&M (L, 48-35)
• Wednesday, March 12: vs. Mississippi Valley State (W, 63-43) (SWAC tournament)
• Friday, March 14: vs. Jackson State (W, 51-47) (SWAC tournament)
• Saturday, March 15: vs. Alcorn State (W, 64-44) (SWAC tournament)

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.