The 13 highest-scoring individual performances in March Madness women’s history

Since the inception of the first women’s NCAA DI tournament in 1982, over 40 years have passed, witnessing numerous record-breaking performances, including some of the highest-scoring individual games in tournament history.

Here is a breakdown of the 13 players who have scored at least 41 points in a single March Madness game.

These records are sourced from the official guides at NCAA.org. The tournament has expanded from 32 teams in 1982 to 64 teams in 1994.

Lorri Bauman — 50 points

Lorri Bauman set the individual scoring record of 50 points during a loss to Maryland in the inaugural DI women’s championship tournament in 1982, predating the introduction of the 3-point line in 1987. Bauman’s remarkable performance included shooting 21 of 35 from the field, 8 of 11 from the line, and playing all 40 minutes without a turnover. She became the first woman in NCAA history to surpass 3,000 career points during her tenure at Drake from 1980-1984.

Year: 1982
School: Drake
Opponent: Maryland
Round: Region Final
Result: Loss, 89-78

Sheryl Swoopes — 47 points

Swoopes’ 47-point performance stands out as the only one on this list to directly contribute to a national title win. She played a crucial role in securing Texas Tech’s first championship in 1993. Her 47 points remain the highest-scoring individual game in women’s Final Four history.

Year: 1993
School: Texas Tech
Opponent: Maryland
Round: Championship
Result: Win, 84-82

Jayne Appel — 46 points

Jayne Appel’s outstanding 46-point performance against Iowa State in 2009 almost single-handedly led the Cardinal to victory over the Cyclones. The win marked the 20th consecutive victory for Stanford before falling to eventual champion UConn in the Final Four.

Year: 2009
School: Stanford
Opponent: Iowa State
Round: Elite Eight
Result: Win, 74-53

Kelsey Mitchell — 45 points

Kelsey Mitchell’s 45 points proved crucial as the Buckeyes secured an 88-81 victory over West Virginia in the 2016 tournament. Unfortunately, Ohio State was eliminated in the Sweet 16 by Tennessee.

Year: 2016
School: Ohio State
Opponent: West Virginia
Round: Second round
Result: Win, 88-81

Candice Wiggins — 44 points

Candice Wiggins holds the distinction of being the only player in history to achieve two 40-plus point performances in a single tournament. In this game, she scored 44 points, accompanied by 10 rebounds and eight assists.

Year: 2008
School: Stanford
Opponent: UTEP
Round: Second round
Result: Win, 88-54

Barbara Kennedy — 43 points

The 1982 tournament witnessed two of the top 11 highest-scoring individual games in March Madness history. Clemson’s Barbara Kennedy recorded 43 points in a loss to Penn State in the maiden NCAA tournament game for women. With a record 93 games of 20+ points, Kennedy is the all-time leading scorer in ACC history with 3,113 points and boasted a nation-leading 29.3 points per game average as a senior.

Year: 1982
School: Clemson
Opponent: Penn State
Round: First round
Result: Loss, 96-75

Marissa Coleman — 42 points

Marissa Coleman delivered a stellar 42-point, 15-rebound performance in Maryland’s 2009 victory over Vanderbilt. Her efforts included leading Maryland’s comeback from an 18-point deficit and hitting the go-ahead basket with 27.9 seconds left to clinch a spot in the Elite Eight.

Year: 2009
School: Maryland
Opponent: Vanderbilt
Round: Sweet 16
Result: Win, 78-74

Elizabeth Kitley — 42 points

Elizabeth Kitley tallied 42 points as her No. 5 Hokies fell to No. 12 Florida Gulf Coast 84-81. She was one of only two double-digit scorers for Virginia Tech, who fought valiantly from behind during the second half.

Year: 2022
School: Virginia Tech
Opponent: Florida Gulf Coast
Round: First round
Result: Loss, 84-81

Caitlin Clark — 41 points (achieved three times)

Caitlin Clark’s tournament performances in 2023 included back-to-back 40-point games, a first in NCAA history. Her remarkable 41-point performance against Louisville in the Elite Eight featured 12 assists and 10 rebounds, marking the first-ever 40-point triple-double in NCAA tournament history and leading Iowa to their inaugural Final Four. Clark repeated the feat in the semifinals, scoring 41 points again, propelling Iowa to victory over top-seeded South Carolina and advancing them to their first championship game.

The following year, Clark duplicated her 41-point performance in the 2024 Elite Eight, sinking nine 3-pointers and adding 12 assists, tying an NCAA tournament single-game record.

Years: 2023 and 2024
School: Iowa
Opponent: Louisville and South Carolina (2023) | LSU (2024)
Round: Elite Eight | Final Four
Result: Win, 97-83 | Win, 77-73

Jackie Stiles — 41 points

Despite her height of just 5’8″, Jackie Stiles managed to score 41 points against ACC powerhouse Duke, propelling her team to the Elite Eight. Stiles even outscored the Blue Devils 16-10 in the final 8 minutes and 11 seconds of the game single-handedly.

Year: 2001
School: Missouri State
Opponent: Duke
Round: Sweet 16
Result: Win, 84-81

Kiki Iriafen — 41 points

In a thrilling game against Iowa State, Kiki Iriafen rescued the Cardinal from a potential Round of 32 upset with a masterful 41-point performance. Her all-around exceptional game included a flawless 9-for-9 performance at the foul line and a comprehensive stat line with 16 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and a steal.

Year: 2024
School: Stanford
Opponent: Iowa State
Round: Round of 32
Result: Win, 87-81 (OT)

Candice Wiggins — 41 points

Following her impressive 44-point showing in the second round of the 2008 tournament, Candice Wiggins delivered another 41-point performance against Maryland in the Elite Eight. Despite her efforts, Stanford eventually lost in the national title game against Tennessee.

Year: 2008
School: Stanford
Opponent: Maryland
Round: Elite Eight
Result: Win, 98-87

Morgan William — 41 points

In an unforgettable Elite Eight battle against Baylor in 2017, Morgan William scored 41 points in a game that went into overtime. William’s heroics extended beyond this game as she led the Bulldogs to another OT victory against UConn, securing the program’s first-ever national title appearance.

Year: 2017
School: Mississippi State
Opponent: Baylor
Round: Elite Eight
Result: Win, 94-85 OT

For the complete list of players and their respective point totals, refer to the table below:

^ Clark scored 41 points three times — twice during the 2023 tournament and once in the 2024 tournament