CLEVELAND – South Carolina returns to the national championship.
The top-ranked and undefeated Gamecocks defeated third-seeded NC State 78-59 in the first game of the Final Four on Friday night. The victory sends South Carolina back to the national championship for the second time in three years, after winning it all in 2022.
The Gamecocks were led by star player Kamilla Cardoso, who had 22 points and 11 rebounds despite missing the final 1:39 of the first half with an apparent leg injury.
“You play to your strengths, Kamilla is one of our strengths,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. “She played with the desire to win. She also asked for the ball a couple of times.”
The Gamecocks led by five before Cardoso went down, but that lead was cut to just one point at halftime.
“I knew she was going to be okay,” South Carolina guard Ashlyn Watkins said. “Kamilla is a warrior. She’s not going to let an injury like that get to her. “She is going to work hard and be ready for Sunday.”
Cardoso returned after halftime and South Carolina took control of the game immediately, going on a 10-1 run in the third quarter. The Gamecocks outscored NC State 29-6 in the third quarter to open the game.
“Coach told us that was a six-point quarter for them,” said Te-Hina Paopao, who finished with 10 points and six assists. “We were kind of surprised because it didn’t feel like that. It felt like we were just focused on offense and defense. And we just play the game we know how to play.
“At some moments we don’t know what is happening. We just know we’re having fun. And we love being together with each other.”
NC State made it to the Final Four thanks to stellar guard play led by the duo of Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers. They combined for 157 points in the previous four games, but only scored 25 on Friday. James scored 20 points on 6-of-17 shooting. Rivers struggled and finished with just five points.
Watkins played a big role in South Carolina’s ability to limit NC State’s guards and the offense as a whole. He had two blocks in the game and while South Carolina held the Wolfpack to just 32 percent shooting, Watkins dominated on the glass.
She had a season-high 20 rebounds and became the fifth player to record 20 rebounds in a Women’s Final Four game and the first in South Carolina history.
While Cardoso is usually the focal point for South Carolina, Staley knew Watkins was going to be a difference-maker on Friday.
“It was important to her to help us,” Staley said. “We didn’t win the game without her contributions. …We are very fortunate to have her play for us.”
South Carolina will await the winner of top-seeded Iowa and third-seeded UConn. If the Gamecocks play UConn, it will be a rematch of the February game between the two teams. 11, which South Carolina won 83-65. If Iowa wins, the Gamecocks will have a chance to get revenge after losing to Iowa in the Final Four last year 77-73.
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(Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
