South Carolina is still on track for a repeat championship.
The No. 1-seeded Gamecocks on Friday took care of business, handling fellow No. 1 Texas 74-57 after the Longhorns failed to keep pace on offense in the second half.
Texas jumped out to a 12-4 start thanks to four different scorers, with Madison Booker leading the way. However, Booker picked up two fouls early and had to sit, coinciding with South Carolina's push back. Texas led 19-18 after one, but it was South Carolina's bench (Joyce Edwards, MiLaysia Fulwiley) that made the early difference.
South Carolina then took the lead and led by as much as five late in the second after Booker picked up her third foul at a crucial point. The Gamecocks led 38-35 at the half and did so with their streak of 103 straight games won when up at the interval, last losing in the scenario in March 2022.
Te-Hina Paopao led the Gamecocks with eight points, making all three of her attempts with two from deep. Edwards also had eight off the bench, with Fulwiley adding seven. Booker only managed one point in the second from a free throw, but it was freshman guard Jordan Lee who stood out off the bench.
The Stockton, Calif., native led the Longhorns with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting. She entered the game averaging 5.6 on 40% shooting in 19.6 minutes per game, but proved imperative at the break.
South Carolina extended its lead to 14 after three, leading 58-44. Edwards hit 12 points while Paopao stayed flawless with 11 on four makes. Lee only added three to her total for Texas with Booker at 11. No other Longhorn reached double figures or was close.
The Gamecocks once again outscored the Longhorns 16-13 in the fourth, with Texas struggling to find the basket in the last two quarters.
South Carolina will meet the winner between No. 1 UCLA and No. 2 UConn later on Friday. The championship game is set for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. PT.
This story will be updated. Check back later for updates.
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