Gamecocks knock off powerhouse UConn to play on Easter

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(Phoenix, AZ)  The first National Semifinal Game matched the same teams from last year‘s  National Title Game.

Both teams want to win for different reasons. Connecticut at their 25th Final Four want to continue their dominance in Women’s College Basketball. The Gamecocks were no strangers to the Final Four either, so on top of being the rematch game, they brought the revenge factor into the equation.

First Quarter

South Carolina got on the board first, while UConn’s first basket came with just under 8 minutes left in the first quarter.

Midway through the quarter, the Huskies hot a three pointer too lead 9-4. One possession later they extended their lead to 11-4.

UConn hit their first three pointer from beyond the arc early and lead 13-8 at the media timeout.

Connecticut had an 11-4 lead to begin the game, but the Gamecocks retuned the favor with their own 11-4 run.

Agot Makeer hot a buzzer beater three as the quarter ended. The Gamecocks’ first trey of the game that tied the score 15-15.

Second Quarter

South Carolina went  on a 6-1 run added to their first quarter run to take a 21-16 lead almost at the midway point of the second quarter.

The Huskies ran off four quick points that pulled them within a point 21-20 at the second media timeout.

Both teams only had one three point basket gong a combined 2-8.

At 2:21, UConn regained the lead 24-23 and a Gamecock timeout.

The officials were letting them play physically as only four free throws had been attempted at this point in the game.

South Carolina had 10 offensive boards that translated to 5 second chance points.

Huskies led at the half 25-24.

Halftime

Neither team shot particularly well at UConn was 12-30 (40%) while USC was 10-32 (31%).

The Gamecocks had a 24-16 advantage on the boards, including 10 offensive rebounds.

There were three ties and three lead changes as UConn led for 9:14 and USC 7:13 in a very tight contest.

Ashlynn Shade and Sarah Strong each had 8 points to lead the Huskies. Ta’Niya Latson and Tessa Johnson each chipped in 6 points for South Carolina.

Third Quarter

The Gamecocks took a slight lead 30-26 after each team traded hoops to begin the second half.

Points off steals opened up USC’s biggest lead 36-28 forcing the Huskies to call timeout at the 5:25 mark of the quarter.

Both teams were shooting the same 36%. This game was played all inside the three point line.

The lead ballooned to ten points 40-30 before UConn’s Kayleigh Heckel hit a three pointer and was followed by Bianca Quinonez’ three and not to be outdone, Azzi Fudd hit her trey and the Huskies with a quick 9 points but the lead to 40-39.

South Carolina finished out the quarter with two baskets and a 44-39 lead heading into the final quarter.

Fourth Quarter 

The Gamecocks rebounding often led to fast break points as they pushed the ball on almost every possession after a UConn miss.

UConn didn’t let the Gamecocks too far out of their sights, as Quiononez hit two free throws to make it a one possession game. 46-44.

Makeer went well beyond the arc to get the inbound pass from under the USC basket, when no one went out to defend her, she launched at three from about twenty five feet to score forcing a Huskies timeout. Gamecocks were up 51-44 with 5:53 to go.

USC reasserted their themselves to lead 55-47 only allowing one shot per possession for the Huskies.

The Gamecocks began to run away as the lead ballooned to eleven points 58-47 with !:05 to go.

All UConn had left was to foul and the Gamecocks shot 82% and a 62-48 victory to advance to Sunday’s championship game.

Wrap Up

This game came down to rebounding. South Carolina dominated on the glass 47-32 and 14-9 on the offensive end.

The Gamecocks used their rebounding superiority pushing the ball and 16-9 in fast break points.

The second half USC dominated and led 25:19 to 10:05. Where the first two quarters saw the score see-saw back and forth, the opposite happened in the last half as Coach Dawn Staely’s squad took it right to the Huskies.

South Carolina had 34 points in the paint to 20 for Connecticut. The Huskies could not take advantage of 16 Gamecocks turnovers.

The Gamecocks will play the UCLA Bruins at noon on Easter Sunday.

At the game’s conclusion, UConn coach Geno Auriemma refused to shake South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley’s hand and retuned to the court afterwards and the two had an animated conversation. Auriemma stated that Staley didn’t cone out for the pregame handshake.