The Guru’s NCAA Report: South Carolina Routs N.C. State With High-Scoring Third Quarter While Iowa Rallies Over UConn to Reach the NCAA Title Game
By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru
CLEVELAND — Somebody’s unfinished business from last season’s Women’s Final Four is going to be completed here Sunday afternoon in the NCAA women’s basketball national championship in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (3 p.m., ABC-TV).
Overall No. 1 seed and top-ranked South Carolina and second-ranked Iowa, the latter featuring scoring record-setter Caitlin Clark, reached the title round Friday night in two wildly separate ways to bring yet another revenge-tinged rematch in less than a week and one likely to continue to attract a high volume of viewers.
For South Carolina (37-0), which was in the national semifinals' opener, coach Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks moved from a slim 32-31 halftime lead to erupt with a matching record for scoring in the round in the third quarter 29-6 to go on to a 78-59 victory over third-seed and 11th-ranked North Carolina State (34-4), which got here out of the Portland Regional 4 in Oregon upsetting second-seeded Stanford and top-seeded Texas.
“We turned up the heat,” Staley said of that decisive quarter.
The night cap between the Hawkeyes (34-4) and third-seeded and 10th-ranked UConn was a different matter and while exciting belied the hyped dual between Clark and the Huskies’ Paige Bueckers.
The 11-time NCAA champion Huskies (33-6) held Clark, the NCAA career-scoring leader, in check through the first three quarters and led by as many as 12 points in the second period.
But she broke free in the final ten minutes with eight points, including the last point in a bizarre 71-69 finish when after UConn trailing 70-69 forced a turnover with nine seconds left, the Huskies gave it right back six seconds later when Aaliyah Edwards was called for an offensive foul with an Illegal screen.
For UConn, it was likely one of the most devastating losses, if not the worst, in program history, having effectively survived a slew of injuries to surprise by returning to the Final Four after a record of 14 straight died in the Sweet 16 last season at the hands of Ohio State.
“We put ourselves in position to win a game that we probably had no business being in given the circumstances we worked with,” said Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma, who with 1,213 career wins is just three behind Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer for most in collegiate hoops, men or women.
“In the moment, when you’re trying to win the game and don’t win the game, you don’t think you’re lucky to be here, you just think about we had an opprtunity to win this game and we didn’t.”
Said Bueckers, “Everybody can make a big deal of that one single play, but not one single play wins a basketball game or loses a basketball game.”
For South Carolina, it’s a chance to pay Iowa back for last season’s semifinals upset that ruined the Gamecock’s perfect record and become the 10th team in NCAA women’s history to go unbeaten besides claiming a third national crown.
And for Iowa, it’s a chance to take the last step, blocked a year ago in the championship by LSU, which the Hawkeyes eliminated Monday night in Albany between a women’s viewership record of 12.3 million. A year ago, the championship airing for the first time on ABC drew 12.9 million.
It also gives Clark a chance to go out on a wave of glory before being the likelihood overall No. 1 draft pick of the WNBA Indiana Fever on April 15th in Brooklyn (N.Y.).
“South Carolina has been the top of the top,” she said. “They’re in a different league. We’re going to do everything we can to try to be right there with them.
“But yeah, I think he biggest thing. Is enjoy this tonight and we’ll go over the scout early in the morning.”
Clark always spoke of team success while becoming the number one attraction in the nation and while it took her a while to get going, Hannah Stuelke became a threat scoring 23 points, though Clark was still close to another. Triple double with 21 points, 7 assists, and nine rebounds.
Kate Martin had 11 points, and Sydney Affolter had eight points and seven rebounds.
Connecticut’s Edwards in her final collegiate game had 17 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, Bueckers also scored 17, freshman KK Arnold had 14 points, and Nika Muhl had nine playing tight defense on Clark all night.
“I. Thought we started off the fourth quarter really good,” Clark said. “Came up with some big baskets. Hannah came up with some baskets. Kate (Martin) was tremendous. Jusgt resilient.”
In. South Carolina’s game, Kamilla Cardoso was the story with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Raven Johnson scored 13, Te-Hina Paopao scored 10, and Ashley Watkins set a record for a reserve in the tournament with 20 rebounds.
NC State’s Aziaha James scored 20, while River Baldwin and Zoe Brooks each scored 12 points.
“They just punched us in the mouth in that third quarter,”James said. “I felt like the third quarter really hurt us. I feel like we could have fought harder. It was 6-29. We can’t let things like that happen to win a championship.”
NCAA 2024 Women’s Tournament by Bracket Pairings
(All results thru National Semifinals plus Championship Date and TV)
ALBANY REGION 1
First Four – South Carolina Hosting
Wednesday, March 20
Colonial Life Arena
Columbia, S.C.
7 p.m. ESPNU
No. 16 Sacred Heart 24-10F vs. No. 16 Presbyterian 21-14 W:49-42
First Round – South Carolina Hosting
Friday, March 22
Colonial Life Arena
Columbia, S.C.
2 p.m. ESPN
No. 16 Presbyterian 21-15F at No. 1/AP1 South Carolina 33-0 W:91-39
11:30 a.m.
No. 8 North Carolina 20-12 W:59-56 vs. No. 9 Michigan State 22-9F
Second Round
Sunday, March 24
Colonial Life Arena
Columbia, S.C.
1 p.m. ABC
No. 8 North Carolina 20-13F at No. 1/AP1 South Carolina 34-0 W:88-41
First Round – Indiana Hosting
Saturday, March 23
Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
Bloomington, Ind.
1:30 p.m. ESPN2
No. 13/AP25 Fairfield 31-2F at No. 4/AP14 Indiana 25-5 W:89-56
4 p.m. ESPNN
No. 12 Florida Gulf Coast 29-5F vs. No. 5/ AP18 Oklahoma 23-9 W:73-70
Second Round
Monday, March 25
Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
Bloomington, Ind.
6:30 p.m. ESPN2
No. 5/AP18 Oklahoma 23-10F at No. 4/AP14 Indiana 26-5 W:75-68
First Round – Oregon State Hosting
Friday, March 22
Gill Coliseum
Corvallis, Ore.
8 p.m. ESPNU
No. 14 Eastern Washington 29-6F at No. 3/AP12 Oregon State 25-7 W:73-51
10:30 p.m. ESPNU
No. 11 Texas A&M 19-13F vs. No. 6 Nebraska 23-11 W:61-59
Second Round
Sunday, March 24
Gill Coliseum
Corvallis, Ore.
4 p.m. ESPN
No. 6 Nebraska 23-12 at No. 3/AP12 Oregon State 26-7 W:61-51
First Round – Notre Dame Hosting
Saturday, March 23
Purcell Pavilion
Notre Dame, Ind.
4:45 p.m., ESPN2
10 Marquette 23-9F vs. 7 Ole Miss 24-8 W:67-55
2:15 p.m. ESPN
No. 15 Kent State 21-11F at No. 2/AP9 Notre Dame 27-6 W:81-67
Second Round
Monday, March 25
Purcell Pavilion
Notre Dame, Ind.
2 p.m. ESPN
No. 7 Ole Miss 24-9F at No. 2/AP9 Notre Dame 28-6 W:71-56
Sweet 16
Friday, March 29
MVP Arena
Albany, N.Y.
5 p.m. ESPN
Nos. 1 /AP1 South Carolina 35-0 W;79-75 vs. Nos. 4/AP14 Indiana 26-6F
2:30 p.m. ESPN
Nos. 2/AP9 Notre Dame 28-7F vs. Nos. 3/AP12 Oregon State 27-7 W:70-65
Elite Eight
Sunday, March 31
MVP Arena
Albany, N.Y.
TBA TV-TBA
No. 1 South Carolina 36-0 W:70-58 vs. No. 3 Oregon State 27-8F
PORTLAND REGION 4
First Round – Texas Hosting
Friday, March 22
Moody Center
Austin, Texas
3 p.m. ESPNU
No. 16 Drexel 19-15F vs. No. 1/AP4 Texas 31-4 W:82-42
5:30 p.m. ESPN2
No. 8 Alabama 24-9 W:82-74 vs. No. 9 Florida State 23-11F
Second Round
Sunday, March 24
Moody Center
Austin, Texas
6 p.m. ESPN
Nos. 8 Alabama 24-10F at No. 1/AP4 Texas 32-4 W:65-54
First Round – Gonzaga Hosting
Saturday, March 23
McCarthy Athletic Center
Spokane, Wash.
7:30 p.m. ESPN2
No. 4/AP16 Gonzaga 31-3 W:75-56 vs. No. 13 UC Irvine 23-9F
10 p.m. ESPNU
No. 5/AP21 Utah 23-10 W:68-64 vs. No. 12 South Dakota State 27-6F
Second Round
Monday, March 25
McCarthy Athletic Center
Spokane, Wash.
10:30 p.m. ESPN2
Nos. 5 Utah 23-11F at No. 4/AP16 Gonzaga 32-3 W:77-66
First Round – NC State Hosting
Saturday, March 23
Reynolds Coliseum
Raleigh, N.C.
2:30 p.m. ESPNU
No. 14 Chattanooga 28-5F at No. 3/AP11 NC State 28-6 W:64-45
12 p.m. ESPN
No. 11 Green Bay 27-7F vs. No. 6 Tennessee 20-12 W:92-63
Second Round
Monday, March 25
Reynolds Coliseum
Raleigh, N.C.
4 p.m. ESPN
No. 6 Tennessee 20-13F at No. 3/AP11 NC State 29-6 W:79-72
First Round – Stanford Hosting
Friday, March 22
Maples Pavilion
Stanford, Calif.
7:30 p.m., ESPN2
10 Maryland 19-14F vs. 7 Iowa State 21-11 W:93-86
10 p.m., ESPN2
No. 15 Norfolk State 27-6F at No. 2/AP5 Stanford 29-5 W:79-50
Second Round
Sunday, March 25
Maples Pavilion
Stanford, Calif.
10 p.m. ESPN
No. 7 Iowa State 21-12F at No. 2/AP5 Stanford 30-5 W87-81ovt
Sweet 16
Friday, March 29
Moda Center
Portland, Ore.
10 p.m. ESPN
Nos. 1/AP 4 Texas 33-4 W:69-47 vs. Nos. 4/AP16 Gonzaga 32-4F
7:30 p.m. ESPN
No. 2/AP5 Stanford 30-6F vs. Nos. 3/AP11 NC State 30-6 W:77-67
Elite Eight
Sunday, March 31
Moda Center
Portland, Ore.
TBA TV-TBA
Nos. 1/AP4 Texas 33-5F vs. No. 3/AP11 NC State 31-6 W:76-66
ALBANY REGION 2
First Four – Iowa Hosting
Thursday, March 21
Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Iowa City, Iowa
7 p.m. ESPNU
No. 16 UT Martin 16-17 vs. No. 16 Holy Cross 21-12 W:72-45
First Round – Iowa Hosting
Saturday, March 23
Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Iowa City, Iowa
3 p.m. ABC
No. 16 Holy Cross 21-13F W: 72-45 at No. 1/AP2 Iowa 30-4 W:91-6
5:30 p.m. ESPN2
No. 8 West Virginia 25-7 W:63-53 vs. No. 9 Princeton 25-5F
Second Round
Monday, March 25
Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Iowa City, Iowa
8 p.m. ESPN
Nos. 8 West Virginia 25-8F at No. 1/AP2 Iowa 31-4 W:64-54
First Round – Kansas State Hosting
Friday, March 22
Bramiage Coliseum
Manhattan, Kansas
4:30 p.m. ESPNN
No. 13 Portland 21-13F at No. 4/AP15 Kansas State 26-7 W:78-65
7 p.m. ESPNN
No. 12 Drake 29-6F vs. No. 5/AP18 Colorado 23-9 W:86-72
Second Round
Sunday, March 24
Bramiage Coliseum
Manhattan, Kansas
2 p.m. ESPN
No. 5/AP18 Colorado 24-9 W:63-50 at No. 4/AP15 Kansas State 26-8F
First Round – LSU Hosting
Friday, March 22
Pete Maravich Assembly Center
Baton Rouge, La.
4 p.m. ESPN
No. 14 Rice 19-15F at No. 3/AP8 LSU 29-5 W:70-60
1:30 p.m. ESPN2
No. 11 Middle Tennessee 30-4 W:71-69 vs. No. 6/AP23 Louisville 24-10F
Second Round
Sunday, March 24
Pete Maravich Assembly Center
Baton Rouge, La.
3 p.m. ABC
No. 11 Middle Tennessee 30-5F at No. 3/AP8 LSU 30-5 W:83-56
First Round – UCLA Hosting
Saturday, March 23
Pauley Pavilion
Los Angeles, Calif.
7 p.m., ESPNN
No.10/AP UNLV 30-3F vs. No. 7/AP24 Creighton 26-5 W:87-73
9:30 p.m. ESPN2
No. 15 California Baptist 28-4F at No. 2/AP6 UCLA 26-6 W:84-55
Second Round
Monday, March 24
Pauley Pavilion
Los Angeles, Calif.
8:30 p.m. ESPN2
No. 7/AP24 Creighton 26-5F at Nos. 2/AP6 UCLA 27-6 W:67-63
Sweet 16
Saturday, March 30
MVP Arena
Albany, N.Y.
3:30 p.m. ABC
Nos. 1/AP2 Iowa 32-4 W:89-68 vs. Nos. 5/AP18 Colorado 24-10F
1 p.m. ABC
Nos. 2/AP6 UCLA 27-7F vs. Nos. 3/AP8 LSU 31-5 W:78-69
Elite Eight
Monday, April 1
MVP Arena
Albany, N.Y.
TBA TV-TBA
Nos. 1/AP2 Iowa 33-4 W:94-87 v. No. 3/AP8 LSU 31-6F
PORTLAND REGION 3
First Four
Virginia Tech Hosting
Wednesday, March 20
Cassell Coliseum
Blacksburg, Va.
9 p.m. ESPNU
No. 12 Vanderbilt 23-9 W:72-68 vs. No. 12 Columbia 23-7F
Connecticut Hosting
Thursday, March 21
Gampel Pavilion
Storrs, Conn.
7 p.m. ESPN2
No. 11 Arizona 18-15 W:69-59 vs. No. 11 Auburn 20-12F
First Round – Southern Cal Hosting
Saturday, March 23
Galen Center
Los Angeles, Calif.
4:30 p.m. ESPN
No. 16 Texas A&M-CC 23-9F at No. 1/AP3 Southern Cal 27-5 W:87-55
2 p.m.
No. 8 Kansas 20-12 W: 81-72 ovt. vs. No. 9 Michigan 20-14F
Second Round
Monday, March 25
Galen Center
Los Angeles, Calif.
10 p.m. ESPN
No. 8 Kansas 20-13F at No. 1/AP3 Southern Cal 28-5 W:73-55
First Round – Virginia Tech Hosting
Friday, March 22
Cassell Coliseum
Blacksburg, Va.
3:30 p.m. ESPN2
No. 13 Marshall 26-7F at No.4/AP13 Virginia Tech 25-7 W:92-49
6 p.m. ESPNU
No. 5/AP19 Baylor 25-7 W:80-63 vs. No. 12 Vanderbilt 23-10F
Second Round
Sunday, March 24
Cassell Coliseum
Blacksburg, Va.
8 p.m. ESPN
No. 5/AP19 Baylor 26-7 W:75-72 at No. 4/AP13 Virginia Tech 25-8F
First Round – Connecticut Hosting
Saturday, March 23
Gampel Pavilion
Storrs, Conn.
1 p.m. ABC
No. 14 Jackson State 26-7F at No. 3/AP10 Connecticut 30-5 W:86-64
3:30 p.m. ESPN2
No. 11 Arizona 18-16F vs. No. 6/AP22 Syracuse 24-7 W:74-69
Second Round
Monday, March 25
Gampel Pavilion
Storrs, Conn.
6 p.m. ESPN
Nos. 6/AP22 Syracuse 24-8F at No. 3/AP10 Connecticut 31-5 W:72-64
First Round – Ohio State Hosting
Friday, March 22
Value City Arena
Columbus, Ohio
2:30 p.m. ESPNN
10 Richmond 29-6F vs. 7 Duke 21-11 W:72-61
12 p.m. ESPN
No. 15 Maine 24-10 at No. 2/AP7 Ohio State 26-5 W:80-57
Second Round
Sunday, March 24
Value City Arena
Columbus, Ohio
12 p.m. ESPN
No. 7 Duke 22-11 W:75-63 at No. 2/AP7 Ohio State 26-6F
Sweet 16
Saturday, March 30
Moda Center
Portland, Ore.
5:30 p.m. ESPN
Nos. 1/AP3 Southern Cal 29-5 W:74-70 vs. No. 5/AP19 Baylor 26-8F
8 p.m. ESPN
No. 7 Duke 22-12F vs. Nos. 3/AP10 Connecticut 32-5 W:53-45
Elite Eight
Monday, April 1
Moda Center
Portland, Ore.
TBA TV-TBA
Nos. 1/AP3 Southern Cal 29-6F vs. No. 3/AP10 Connecticut 33-5 W:80-73
Women’s Final Four
Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
Cleveland, Ohio
National Semifinals
Friday, April 5
7 p.m. ESPN
AR1 No. 1/AP1 South Carolina 37-0 W:78-59 vs. PR4 No. 3/AP11 NC State 31-7F
9 p.m. ESPN
AR2 No. 1/AP2 Iowa 34-4 W: 71-69 vs. PR3 No. 3/AP10 Connecticut 33-6F
National Championship
Sunday, April 7
3 p.m. ABC
AR1 No. 1/AP1 South Carolina 37-0 vs. AR2 No. 1/AP2 Iowa 34-4
posted by Mel Greenberg | 2:54 AM
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