BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — South Carolina is back in the Final Four for a fifth straight season, but it didn’t come easy.
The top-seeded Gamecocks, defending national champions, got all they could handle from second-seeded Duke, winning 54-50.
South Carolina overcame a 41-30 rebounding differential, led by its standout post players Chloe Kitts and Sania Feagin. Kitts finished the game with 14 points and Feagin added 12, with the pair scoring the Gamecocks’ final eight points. Kitts came up big in the fourth quarter, scoring eight of her 14 points. Te-Hina Paopao was a big part of South Carolina’s spark in the second half as well, scoring eight of her points in the second half and finishing without a turnover.
This wasn’t as easy a game as some expected. South Carolina trailed by four points entering the fourth quarter, yet pulled away late. That’s been the story of the tournament for South Carolina, as it had to find a way to win late against Maryland in the Sweet 16 and at home against Indiana in the second round.
Despite having much to improve on, Dawn Staley’s team is returning to the Final Four with national championship aspirations. The Gamecocks will play the winner of Monday’s Texas-TCU game in the Final Four on April 4.
South Carolina has plenty to improve upon
The…
