South Carolina rolls by NC State to succeed in their second NCAA Ladies’s Championship recreation in three years.
It’s a must to give credit score the place credit score is due. Head coach Daybreak Staley and the Gamecocks had been anticipated to regress after shedding a bulk of their starters final season. As an alternative, for the primary time in program historical past, South Carolina completed undefeated on the yr. An ideal 37-0, the no. 1 Gamecocks secured themselves a Ultimate 4 victory over no. 3 NC State Wolfpack. In attendance had been former Gamecocks, Aliyah Boston and A’ja Wilson.
And now they’re the primary crew to move to the NCAA Finals with an undefeated report for the primary time for the reason that UConn Huskies in 2016.
South Carolina entered this matchup because the heavy favorites by an 11.5-point unfold after knocking off Presbyterian, UNC, Indiana, and Oregon State within the earlier rounds. Main the nation with a +29.3 level differential, they confirmed the basketball world simply who they had been on Friday.
In a post-game interview with Indiana Fever middle on ESPN, Staley shared a heartfelt second together with her former participant. Whereas Boston was a staple of their championship run, it was Iowa that despatched them packing in final yr’s Ultimate 4. Stating how proud she is of the previous Gamecock, she reiterated they wish to search redemption for Boston. Boston was a four-year participant for Staley at South Carolina and was drafted No.1 total by Indiana within the 2023 WNBA Draft.
“We’re excited”, Staley instructed ESPN’s Aliyah Boston. “That is the place we wished to be. We wish to do it for you. We actually wish to deal with Sunday for you and the freshies since you gave basketball every thing you had, and also you got here up quick in your senior yr.”
The Gamecocks broke the sport open within the third quarter
Tied 16 all within the first quarter, the Wolfpack saved the sport comparatively shut, 32-31 on the have. Whereas NC State had an unbelievable season, they really by no means had an opportunity in opposition to the Gamecocks. Undefeated. Dominant. South Carolina steamrolled previous one other crew within the event. Led by 6’7 middle Kamila Cardoso, she completed with a game-high 22 factors, 11 rebounds, and two blocks, on 10-12 subject objective capturing.
And similar to that – GAMECOCKS UP 1️⃣2️⃣!! TIMEOUT NC STATE
📺 @espn pic.twitter.com/1piImuZ1WN
— South Carolina Ladies’s Basketball (@GamecockWBB) April 6, 2024
Heading into the third quarter, the Gamecocks turned on the Jets, outscoring NC State 29-6 within the third quarter. Sure, you heard that proper, NC State scored simply six factors. Displaying their defensive prowess, this crew performs their finest once they run performs on each side of the ball by way of Cardoso. Other than a pair of free throws, Wolfpack guard Aziaha James scored the lone bucket within the third quarter. NC State shot 1-11 as a complete within the third. In truth their 29 factors in that quarter was probably the most scored in given interval in Ladies’s Ultimate 4 historical past.
Credit score James, who completed with a team-high 20 factors on 6-17 capturing. Though South Carolina put the clamps on her, James was the glue to their magical March Insanity run. Whereas Cardoso had a subject day within the paint, it was extra concerning the depth of South Carolina and their contributions off the bench.
Saniya Rivers, who gained a title with South Carolina, transferred to NC State her sophomore yr. This season, she averaged 12.5 factors, 6.1 rebounds, and three.7 assists. A foremost staple for his or her success, Rivers struggled, capturing simply 2-11 from the ground with 5 turnovers.
Fortunate for Staley, she had the posh of resting Cardoso within the fourth quarter. This got here after she suffered an obvious leg harm within the third quarter. Though she returned, the middle donned a black leg sleeve for the remainder of the matchup.
Staley constructed expertise round Kamilla Cardoso
Talking of the bench, it was Ashlyn Watkins who obtained heavy minutes of enjoying time. Standing at 6 foot 3, the guard grew to become the primary participant in South Carolina girls’s basketball historical past to report a dunk in 2022 vs. Clemson. Showcasing her unbelievable vertical leap and spacing, Watkins grabbed 20 boards in opposition to NC State. South Carolina dominated NC State on the rebounds, 46-32.
A power on the within, 15 of her 20 rebounds got here on the defensive finish. Limiting NC State to only 32.3 % from the sector and 26.1 % from deep, it was securing defensive stops and rebounds which led to offensive alternatives. Along with her monumental efforts on the glass, Watkins poured in eight factors, one help, and two blocks.
Throughout that colossal third quarter, the Gamecocks missed solely seven subject objective makes an attempt. It was third-year guard Raven Johnson who impressed probably the most. Initially headed to the locker room with an obvious harm, she got here again to complete with 13 factors, on 3-5 three-point capturing. A lockdown defender, Johnson added three steals and 5 assists on the night time. She shot 4-5 from the ground within the second half.
🚨SOUTH CAROLINA IS HEADED TO THE FINALS🚨
The Gamecocks defeat NC State 78-59 and canopy the -11.5 level unfold pic.twitter.com/ibXdnTxQgG
— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) April 6, 2024
In a gifted backfield, Senior switch Te-Hina Paopao completed with 10 factors on 2-5 three-point capturing. Shelling out six dimes, the guard hit 100% of her three-point pictures within the third quarter. Up 21 factors with seconds remaining, Bree Corridor splashed a 3 to finish the quarter. This exhibits past the expertise and rim safety of Cardoso, there is a multitude of gamers that may step up at any given time. And the truth that Staley refuses to let off the gasoline exhibits how harmful this crew is.
South Carolina’s bench produced 30 factors
Though NC State outscored South Carolina 22-17 within the last quarter, Daybreak Staley obtained 30 factors from the bench alone. Whereas freshman Milaysia Fulwiley struggled on the offensive finish, she was a menace on the defensive facet with 4 steals. I do consider she is a rising star and will turn out to be an X-factor within the championship recreation. Tessa Johnson, Fulwiley, Watkins, and Sania Feagin–they are such essential members of this crew.
Total, the Gamecocks confirmed everybody their true selves. A bodily dominant crew on each side of the ball that continues to hammer groups. Probably the most full crew within the NCAA event, it is time we hand coach Staley her flowers. Nationwide champions in 2022 and 2017, that is Staley’s sixth finals look since her first season as head coach (2008). Probably the greatest coaches to ever grace the sport, Staley is revolutionizing girls’s basketball.
We will not neglect when Caitlin Clark waved off Raven Johnson in final yr’s Ultimate 4 victory over South Carolina. Whereas Iowa destroyed their good season, Staley, the Naismith Coach of the 12 months, will look to construct on the dynasty she’s created in South Carolina.
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content material Creator and Social Media Supervisor for Ballislife Bets. She has a give attention to the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane at the moment resides in Connecticut/NYC space together with her Cat and Canine. SJ has her undergraduate diploma from the College of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in enterprise administration
