CLEVELAND — South Carolina is back in the national championship game.
The top-ranked and undefeated Gamecocks defeated third-seeded North Carolina State 78-59 on Friday night in the first game of the Final Four. With this win, South Carolina returns to the national championship for the second time in three years, having won it all in 2022.
The Gumcocks were led by star post player Camila Cardoso, who had 22 points and 11 rebounds despite missing the final 1:39 of the first half with a foot injury.
“You play to your strengths, and Camila is our strength,” University of South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. “She played with a desire to win. She called for the ball a few times, too.”
The Gumcocks led by five points before Cardoso went down, but that lead was cut to just one point at half-time.
“I knew she was going to be OK,” South Carolina guard Ashlyn Watkins said. “Camila is a warrior. She's not going to let an injury like that affect her. She's going to push and be ready for Sunday.”
Cardoso returned after halftime and South Carolina quickly took control, going on a 10-1 run in the third quarter. The Gamecocks outscored NC State 29-6 in the third quarter to break the game.
“Coach said that was a six-point quarter for them,” said Tehina Paopao, who had 10 points and six assists. “We were shocked too because it didn't feel like that. It felt like we were locked in on offense and defense. And we just played the game we knew how to play.
“At some points, I don't know what's going on. I know we're just having fun. And we love being with each other.”
North Carolina State made it to the Final Four on the back of great guard play led by the duo of Asiaha James and Saniyah Rivers. He has scored a total of 157 points in his past four games, but scored just 25 on Friday. James scored 20 points on 6-of-17 shooting. Rivers struggled, scoring just five points.
Watkins played a huge role in South Carolina's ability to limit NC State's guards and the offense as a whole. She had two blocks in the game, and Watkins dominated the glass while South Carolina held the Wolfpack to just 32 percent shooting.
She had a season-high 20 rebounds, becoming the fifth player in a women's Final Four game to grab 20 rebounds and the first in South Carolina history.
Cardoso is often the center of attention at South Carolina, but Staley knew Watkins would be the difference-maker on Friday.
“Her help for us was huge,” Staley said. “We can't win games without her contributions. … We're very fortunate to have her playing for us.”
South Carolina will await the winner of No. 1 seed Iowa State and No. 3 seed UConn. If the Shamcocks play UW, it will be a rematch of the Feb. 11 matchup, which the University of South Carolina won 83-65. If Iowa wins, the Shamcocks will be looking to avenge last year's 77-73 loss to Iowa in the Final Four.
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(Photo: Gregory Schamus/Getty Images)