South Carolina, thirsty for its first national title in five years, beat North Carolina in the round of 16 of the NCAA Women’s Tournament, defeating Tar Heels, 69-61, on Friday night. While the Tar Heels were on a subversive route in the Greensboro area, sending fourth Arizona to the home ground in the second round, the young team did not fit into the depths of the Gamecocks. Aliyah Boston, the star of the junior forward who was the focus of her team, secured her 27th consecutive double-double with 28 points and 22 rebounds and senior forward Victoria Saxton did it when her team needed it most with 14 rebounds and two basic blocks. . Boston secured all 13 points for South Carolina in the fourth quarter. But victory did not come easily. South Carolina found it difficult to keep up with the fast Tar Heels in the first half as they repeatedly drove downhill, staying low and fast in the lane. The Gamecocks allowed 23 points in the first quarter. Deja Kelly, North Carolina’s second guard, danced around the South Carolina defense to lead her team with 23 points. But Destanni Henderson and Zia Cooke responded quickly and scored the Gamecocks they needed to stay alive. Henderson finished with 13 points and Cook scored 15, completing the second quarter on his back after a successful jump shot. When they lost a basket, Boston came in and finished it with two, three, sometimes four pitch heels almost hanging over it. “It was a tough game – think of North Carolina because it played a very effective basketball game,” said coach Dawn Staley. “They put us on the edge.” The game was the third Sweet 16 match between the programs since 2014 and North Carolina’s first appearance in the third round since 2015, when she lost to South Carolina. The Gamecocks will then face the winner of Friday night’s game between Iowa State and Creighton.
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Gamecock and Tar Heel fans filled the Greensboro Coliseum, just a three-hour drive from Columbia, SC and an hour’s drive from Chapel Hill, NC, creating a sea of blue and red with its neon green and pink sneakers. South Carolina. The Gamecocks were looking for redemption after losing to Stanford last year in the semifinals by two points. But in Friday’s game, Gamecock’s victory was far from certain. While their wild defense, one of the tournament’s best, has repeatedly denied competition, the Gamecocks’ attack is finding it difficult to turn drives into points. “It shows that it will get harder and harder,” Cook said after the game. “We have our foot on the gas all the time.” – Remy Tumin
Texas overtakes the State of Ohio in a physical game.
SPOKANE, Washington – Texas advanced to Round of 8 for the second consecutive tournament with a 66-63 victory over the State of Ohio on Friday, with the help of senior Guard Joanne Allen-Taylor’s decisive game and team players. Lauren Ebo and Aaliyah Moore. The Buckeyes ‘top scorers of the season, Jacy Sheldon and Taylor Mikesell, scored 36 points, which was not enough to surpass the Longhorns’ natural defense. The Longhorns took the lead early on, staying ahead until Texas point guard Rory Harmon, a freshman, conceded two fouls in the first quarter when a charge and a blocking call went wrong. From that point on, it began to look like Ohio State could beat Texas in its own game, pushing the Longhorns from the baseline to the baseline every time they entered the ball. Texas coach Vic Schaefer said the press was “exactly what we are” before the game, but it was the Buckeyes who threatened to tip over every time the Longhorns had to pass the ball halfway. The Buckeyes finished the first quarter with a 4-point lead thanks in large part to Sheldon, who continued to find ways to score even when shooting opportunities were hard to find. Allen-Taylor, who finished the first half with 13 points and added 4 to the second, allowed Texas to go to the locker room with a lead, moving to the basket with only three seconds left and walked away with the bucket and the foul. The fact that he was able to get out of the first half without a personal foul was particularly remarkable, given how physical the game was at that point. The teams combined for a single successful three-pointer in the first half and the players had to fight for every effort whether it was beyond the arc or inside it. The Longhorns found some momentum in the middle of the third quarter, forcing the turnovers and gaining second chance points. But Ohio State top guard Braxtin Miller struck everything but one shot that quarter, scoring eight points and preventing Texas from being comfortable. However, the Buckeyes started to look a little less energetic and started to leave the pitch. Entering the final frame, Texas had increased its lead to 5 points. Texas would lead by up to 10 points, until the State of Ohio forced a series of reversals that brought the game immediately back, with only four minutes left. The Longhorns’ lead was reduced to 1 point as the match clock collapsed and the Buckeyes had the ball. But Texas was able to use the defense that was his calling card all season, make a comeback and make free throws to seal the victory. – Natalie Weiner
