Gonzaga women will meet Louisville in regional semifinal

Women’s basketball: A freshman point guard ruined Xavier’s plans for another deep NCAA tournament run.

Shoni Schimmel (pictured) scored a career-high 33 points Tuesday night, leading a late comeback that swept Louisville to an 85-75 second-round victory over the second-seeded Musketeers’ on their home court in Cincinnati.

The Cardinals (22-12) go to Spokane to play Gonzaga in a regional semifinal on Saturday. Xavier knocked Gonzaga out of the tournament last year

Xavier (29-3) had no answer for Schimmel, who rallied the Cardinals from a seven-point deficit with 5:58 to go.

It was a stunning collapse by Xavier, which made it to the Elite Eight last season and had won 19 in a row with its dominating frontcourt duo of Amber Harris and Ta’Shia Phillips.

Fans looking to purchase tickets for the regional at the Arena can buy them through the arena itself, at www.ticketswest.com, or by calling 1-800-325-SEAT.

The game will tip off at 6 p.m.

Wednesday’s second-round NCAA tournament results/ B5

Giacoletti withdraws name

Men’s basketball: Gonzaga men’s basketball assistant coach Ray Giacoletti has withdrawn his name from consideration for the head coaching job at Northern Illinois University.

Giacoletti, who has been with the Bulldogs for four seasons, and Purdue assistant coach Paul Lusk were finalists for the job, sources indicated.

Northern Illinois, a Mid-American Conference school located in DeKalb, is replacing Ricardo Patton, who was fired after compiling a 35-83 record in four seasons. Other candidates included Indiana assistant Tim Buckley and Michigan State assistant Mark Montgomery, according to the Daily Chronicle in DeKalb.

Giacoletti appeared to be the first choice at NIU, according to a report Tuesday afternoon on ESPN.com’s Rumor Central. He pulled his name from consideration later Tuesday.

Prior to joining GU’s staff, Giacoletti was a head coach for 10 years at three schools. He posted winning records at North Dakota State (1998-2000), Eastern Washington (2001-04) and Utah (2005-07).

Giacoletti is a native of Peoria, Ill, which is about 120 miles south of DeKalb.

Jim Meehan