South Carolina vs. Indiana final score, highlights: Gamecocks advance to Elite Eight

Undefeated and top-seeded South Carolina (35-0) narrowly defeated No. 4 Indiana (26-6) with a final score of 79-75 in the Sweet 16 of the women's NCAA tournament. The Gamecocks will play No. 3 Oregon State in the Elite Eight.

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But the win didn't come easily. The Hoosiers threatened to knock the perfect team out several times in the fourth quarter.

Indiana's Mackenzie Holmes made a layup at 1:08 to bring the margin to two. This came after Sara Scalia and Sydney Parrish each brought the game within four after the four-minute mark.

Raven Johnson answered Holmes’ shot with a long three-point bucket to give the Gamecocks a little bit of breathing room. The sophomore guard, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last year, averages eight points a game and finished this matchup with 14 points, five rebounds and six assists. Kamilla Cardoso had 22 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

Holmes was crying as the clock hit zero. The Hoosiers senior forward finished the last game of her college career with 12 points, four rebounds and two blocks. Parrish led Indiana with 21 points.

The Gamecocks haven’t forgotten they were upset last year and in fact, they still seem upset about it. They’re taking it out on anyone in their way — look out, Oregon State — and seem eager to prove there won’t be a repeat of last spring.

Indiana had been keeping things close — relatively speaking — early in the game before South Carolina continued to dominate down low to break it open.

The Gamecocks had a 49-32 lead at the half behind their aggressive attacks in the low post; South Carolina had 24 points in the paint before hafltime, compared to just 10 from Indiana. The Gamecocks closed the half on a 15-4 run and have four separate runs of seven consecutive points. Their 17-point lead is the largest of the game.

Indiana turned things around in the second half, but it wasn't enough to stay alive.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Indiana vs. South Carolina: Gamecocks hold on, advance to Elite Eight