South Carolina are headed to their sixth consecutive Final Four after a 78-52 victory over TCU in the Elite Eight.
The Gamecocks are just the second team in NCAA history to reach six straight Final Fours. Coach Dawn Staley said this achievement never loses its magic.
“It doesn’t feel [ordinary] because of all the work that it requires to get to this place. It’s a lot,” Staley said. “People don’t see what actually happens to get a team and a program up for the challenges of a season and get to the Final Four.”
New Faces, Same Dominance
South Carolina added Ta’Niya Latson and Madina Okot, and Agot Makeer to their roster. The Gamecocks also lost several key players to other schools and the WNBA.
Senior guard Raven Johnson is the only player who has experienced the Final Four every year of her collegiate career.
“There was a core that was a part of the last, probably, five years,” Staley said. “We just lost the core of our team.
“So, I’m just really proud of our players for being able to overcome all the things that come with the rigors of a season.”
Undefeated Run Tested
The Gamecocks have been dominant so far this tournament. They scored at least 90 points in the first three games, including 100 points in the rounds of 64 and 32, and have a plus-161 point differential over their opponents.
Up until Monday, they had yet to trail in this year’s tourney. TCU jumped out to a 6-0 lead.
Big runs at the ends of the first and second quarters gave South Carolina a seven-point lead at halftime, but it wasn’t the overpowering performance the Gamecocks had become accustomed to.
Fourth-Quarter Surge Seals the Win
Holding onto an eight-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, Joyce Edwards said Latson told her teammates they would be up by 20 at the five-minute mark of the period.
“That’s what we did,” Edwards said. “I feel like our defense got more intense. And defense turned into offense and we were able to get some transition buckets. And it just went up from there.”
The Gamecocks opened the fourth with a 14-0 run and led by 20 by the seven-minute mark.
Edwards registered game highs with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Makeer added 18 points, while Raven Johnson finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
“The mentality has to be different,” South Carolina sophomore forward Joyce Edwards said about fighting back from a deficit. “When you’re in an uphill battle, you’re always fighting. Everything — you’re in a state where every possession matters, every little thing matters.”
Staley said this moment never loses its magic.