PHOENIX (AP) — Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks have made it to the NCAA Tournament championship game after a tough match against UConn. This victory ended UConn’s impressive 54-game winning streak, handing the team its first loss of the season at 62-48.
Ta’Niya Latson led South Carolina with 16 points, while Agot Makeer contributed 14. The Gamecocks are making their fourth title game appearance in five years and are aiming for their fourth championship on Sunday against UCLA.
Staley praised her players for staying focused. “We just locked in once we built a lead,” she said. “We did what was working.”
However, the game ended with some drama. As the final seconds went by, Staley and UConn’s Geno Auriemma exchanged words on the sideline, leading to a bit of tension. After the game, Auriemma skipped the handshake and went straight to the tunnel, which sparked questions about what happened. Staley remained unclear about the incident but emphasized her integrity, noting that she shook hands with Auriemma’s staff before the game.
UConn, who has a history of success, entered the Final Four with an undefeated record but has now left twice in the last three years without a championship. This game marked their lowest scoring output since a loss to South Carolina in last year’s finals.
The matchup also highlighted how physical South Carolina’s defense can be. UConn’s star player, Sarah Strong, had a jersey ripped during the game, which some attribute to that aggressive defense. Strong even commented, “It was an accident; I missed my shot.”
Despite a hard-fought effort, UConn struggled offensively, shooting only 31.1% from the field. Their last significant challenge was the Gamecocks, who came into the game ready and determined. Staley’s team has shown that they can rise to the occasion, as evidenced by their tenacity on defense.
With this victory, South Carolina is one step closer to reclaiming glory in women’s basketball. The championship game on Sunday promises to be an exciting battle as they face off against UCLA. The stakes are high, and the Gamecocks are ready to meet the moment.
For more information on March Madness, check the AP’s NCAA women’s bracket.
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