Triangle Sports Roundup: ACC and Big Ten tie in Women’s ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

GREENSBORO, N.C. – For only the second time in ACC/Big Ten Challenge history, the two storied conferences played to a tie in the 2014 Challenge as each won seven Challenge games apiece Wednesday and Thursday.

Highlighting the ACC’s wins on the first day of action was Florida State defeating Purdue, 67-64 in overtime, Pittsburgh winning at Ohio State, 78-74, and No. 2/1 Notre Dame topping No. 15/10 Maryland 92-72.

In the second day of competition, No. 21/21 Syracuse bested Penn State, 61-39, No. 7/7 Louisville took care of No. 22/19 Iowa 86-52 and Miami defeated Wisconsin 66-54.

Also on Thursday, No. 6/6 North Carolina took down No. 18/20 Rutgers, 96-93, in two overtimes to mark the first time in Challenge history two overtimes were needed to decide a game.

The ACC moves to 6-0-2 all-time in the Challenge with a 54-39 record against the Big Ten in Challenge games.

The only other tie in Challenge history occurred in 2011, when each conference won six games.

The inaugural Challenge in 2007 saw the ACC collect its all-time high of eight victories.

The ACC/Big Ten Women’s Basketball Challenge matches teams from each conference in head-to-head competition, traditionally on the first Wednesday and Thursday after Thanksgiving following the ACC/Big Ten Men’s Basketball Challenge.

The ACC and Big Ten conference offices determine the schedule each season, and matchups may repeat from year-to-year in efforts to coordinate similar opponents and reach competitive equity.

In addition, the official title of the Challenge will rotate each year.

The 2014 event was referred to as the ACC/Big Ten Women’s Basketball Challenge and will continue to mirror the official title of the two conferences’ Challenge agreement for men’s basketball.

2014 ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Thurs., Dec. 4

No. 6/6 North Carolina 96, at No. 18/20 Rutgers 93 (2OT)

at No. 16/16 Michigan State 79, Georgia Tech 73 (OT)

at No. 21/22 Syracuse 61, Penn State 39

at No. 7/7 Louisville 86, No. 22/19 Iowa 52

at Virginia Tech 45, Northwestern 70

at Miami 66, Wisconsin 54

Wed., Dec. 3

RV/RV Florida State 67, at Purdue 64 (OT)

Pittsburgh 78, at Ohio St. 74

at Michigan 83, Wake Forest 69

Indiana 76, at Boston College 67

at No. 2/1 Notre Dame 92, No. 15/10 Maryland 72

Minnesota 60, at NC State 55

at No. 12/15 Nebraska 60, No. 9/8 Duke 54

at Illinois 86, Virginia 63