CLEVELAND — Completely dominant. Nothing different for South Carolina.
Led by All-America center Kamilla Cardoso's 22 points, the Gamecocks maintained their unbeaten season, reaching the women’s NCAA Tournament championship game with a 78-59 win over North Carolina State on Friday night.
The talented and determined Gamecocks (37-0) were only ahead by one at halftime before showcasing their full range of abilities in the third quarter. They tightened up on defense, started making 3-pointers, and outscored the Wolfpack 29-6, transforming what had been a tight matchup into another of their lopsided victories.
Coach Dawn Staley said, “We increased the pressure.”
South Carolina will face Iowa and standout Caitlin Clark for the national title on Sunday.
The Hawkeyes, who outlasted UConn in the other semifinal, will face a tough challenge. South Carolina seems to be on a mission.
“I could tell by our expressions and voices,” stated Gamecocks forward Ashlyn Watkins, who grabbed 20 rebounds. “We wanted it more.”
Aziaha James scored 20 points on 6-of-17 shooting for No. 3 seed N.C. State (31-7), which defeated a No. 1 and a No. 2 seed to reach Cleveland.
However, the Wolfpack stood no chance against the Gamecocks, who were the clear No. 1 for most of the season in the AP Top 25 and are aiming to become the first undefeated national champions since UConn in 2016.
They seem nearly invincible.
“They simply overwhelmed us in the third quarter,” James remarked. “I felt like the third quarter really hurt us. I believe we could have fought harder. The score was 6-29. We can’t allow things like that to happen in order to win a championship.”
Cardoso also grabbed 11 rebounds in just 23 minutes of play.
She injured her right leg late in the first half and returned in the third quarter with a black compression sleeve. Staley was able to rest her star center in the fourth quarter to ensure she's ready for Sunday.
“She’s not going to like this answer, but she’s a wonderful Brazilian warrior,” Gamecocks guard Te-Hina Paopao said of Cardoso. “She’s just amazing. She's going to play through some pain. She’s going to push through that. Knowing we have one more game, she’s definitely going to be OK.”
Watkins was equally dominant in the paint for the Gamecocks, securing 15 of her rebounds on the defensive end and scoring eight points. Raven Johnson contributed 13 points.
Saniya Rivers, who transferred from South Carolina to N.C. State after winning a title as a freshman, only made 2 of 11 shots and had five turnovers as her former teammates made every touch difficult.
N.C. State coach Wes Moore knew his team would have to perform exceptionally well to have any chance against the stronger, more formidable South Carolina.
On Thursday, he likened the semifinal to a David-vs.-Goliath matchup and assured his team would “put the stone in the sling and let it rip.”
The Wolfpack needed more than stones.
“I’ll probably throw up a few times when I watch that third quarter,” commented Moore, who regretted not switching to a zone defense earlier. “I don’t feel like a very good coach after that butt-kickin’. But our players, you’ve got to have players.
"I always say you don’t win the Kentucky Derby with a mule. You’ve got to have horses."
Enjoying the role of the underdog, the Wolfpack, who lost a double-overtime heartbreaker to UConn two years ago in the Elite Eight, were hoping to recreate some of the magic the school had in 1983. Back then, N.C. State’s Jim Valvano-coached men’s team shocked the basketball world by beating heavily favored Houston in the NCAA title game — an upset that helped define March Madness.
But unlike last year, when South Carolina stormed into the Final Four in Dallas with an identical 36-0 record before losing to Clark and Iowa in the semis, the Gamecocks maintained their undefeated streak this season.
The 6-foot-7 Cardoso ensured this despite not moving as well as usual after the injury. South Carolina, which won by an average of 29.6 points this season, left no doubt after halftime, displaying its dominance to a sellout crowd and national TV audience.
"Kamilla is a strength of ours," Staley said. "She’s 6-7. She’s agile. She can command the paint. She plays with a desire to win. She asked for the ball a couple of times as well, meaning get her the ball."
"It’s that. It’s ‘I don’t want to lose, I don’t want our season to end in any way except the way I envisioned, and that’s winning the national championship.’ And when you can put your play behind your vision, it makes a beautiful memory."
Paopao and Johnson made 3-pointers as the Gamecocks quickly extended their lead to 10, and they closed the quarter with a dizzying 17-1 run that silenced a rowdy N.C. State crowd.
While this unprecedented season of women’s basketball has been largely driven by Clark’s assault on the record books with her long-distance 3-pointers and charisma inspiring fans from coast to coast, one team ascended to the top.
It has been South Carolina all along.
These Gamecocks have dominated with equal amounts of depth, talent and confidence.
Staley wasn’t sure what type of team she had when the season began after having to replace five starters from last year’s squad. She also worried about her young team’s carefree attitude and whether this group would mature.
But not only did the Gamecocks bond and get themselves together, they’re one win away from solidifying South Carolina as a dynasty.
"One more game left," Paopao said. "We’re excited for that."
