First look: South Carolina locks in rematch with UConn in national championship game
For the second time in program history, South Carolina is headed to the national championship game.
The Gamecocks are hoping history repeats itself after winning it all in their first appearance in 2017. They’ll have to play UConn again in USC’s pursuit of a second national title.
The last time the two teams played was on Nov. 22 in the Bad Boy Mowers Women’s Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. The Gamecocks won the contest 73-57.
About the game
Records: South Carolina (34-2), UConn (30-5)
Time: 8 p.m. Sunday, April 3
TV: ESPN
Series history: Connecticut carries the 9-2 series lead over South Carolina into the national championship game. The Gamecocks earned their second-ever win over the Huskies this season after beating them 70-52 at home two years ago.
How South Carolina got here
After making the Final Four for the second consecutive season, the Gamecocks reversed their fate from a year ago and beat Louisville 75-59. The team has now won five straight, including back-to-back games with double-digit win margins. All five of its starters logged double-digit scoring performances Friday.
3 top Gamecocks: Aliyah Boston (junior, forward, 17.0 points, 12.4 rebounds, 1.3 blocks), Brea Beal (junior, guard, 5.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists), Destanni Henderson (senior, guard, 11.1 points, 3.9 assists, 1.3 steals).
How UConn got here
The Huskies denied Stanford of a second straight national championship by beating the Cardinal 63-58 on Friday in the Final Four. UConn enters the final contest on a 15-game winning streak.
3 top Huskies: Paige Bueckers (sophomore, guard, 13.8 points, 4.2 assists, 1.6 steals); Christyn Williams (senior, guard, 14.5 points, 2.3 assists, 3.5 rebounds); Olivia Nelson-Ododa (senior, forward, 9.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists)
