South Carolina defeats Texas in Final Four, advances to national championship game

At halftime of Friday night’s Final Four game, Texas and South Carolina kept things close. The Gamecocks rallied from a slow start and eventually took a 38-35 lead into the locker room.

In the third quarter, though, Dawn Staley’s group took full control. South Carolina outscored Texas 20-9 after halftime to eventually secure a spot in the national championship for the second straight year with a resounding 74-57 victory.

The Gamecocks got a balanced scoring attack in the third quarter as they created separation. Five different players scored in the frame, led by Bree Hall’s five points, as South Carolina went 9-for-16 from the field. On the Texas side, the Longhorns went just 4-for-14 as a group with just three players scoring.

Texas then looked like it was trying to make a charge, getting back within 10 points in the fourth quarter. But Te-Hina Paopao hit a three-pointer to immediately stop the charge, and South Carolina remained in the driver’s seat the rest of the way. Sunday’s national championship game will be the Gamecocks’ second straight appearance and third in four seasons.

Paopao led South Carolina with 14 points while Joyce Edwards had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. She also added six assists, further showcasing the impact she had off the bench in the victory. Hall was the third Gamecocks player to hit double figures with 11 points in the effort.

As a group, the South Carolina offense was humming. The Gamecocks shot 50.9% from the field, including 7-of-11 from three-point territory, while dishing out 17 assists on 29 made field goals.

On the Texas side, Jordan Lee had a team-high 16 points, and Madison Booker added 11. She got into early foul trouble, though, which led Vic Schaefer to keep her on the bench for most of the first half. Rori Harmon also had an impressive game for the Longhorns with eight points and seven rebounds.

After the strong start, Texas struggled mightily from the field. The Longhorns shot 39.3% from the floor, and that number fell to 30% in the second half as they went just 9-for-30.

South Carolina will now make its preparations for Sunday’s title game. The Gamecocks will await the winner of UConn vs. UCLA, which immediately follows from Tampa.