Defeated the South Carolina Yukon to win the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship

CNN
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The South Carolina Gamecocks won their second National Championship in five years on Sunday after that Defeat the Connecticut Huskies 64-49.

The name of Sunday’s game was the Gamecocks’ defensive and offensive rebounds, who dominated the match from the start with a 13-2 lead in just the first six minutes of the match. This was the lowest point a Husky has scored in a quarter this season.

The Gamecocks defeated the Husky 49-24 in the victory.

The Husky lasted two runs — 9-0 in the second quarter and 10-0 in the third — but Gamecocks held onto the lead for the entire match.

South Carolina goalkeeper Destani Henderson and striker Alia Boston were the stars of Sunday’s game. Henderson finished the game with 26 points and Boston with 11 points.

“I’ve been thinking about it since last season, everyone had a picture of me crying. Today we’re National Champions and I’m crying,” Boston said, referring to last year’s Final Four loss to Stanford.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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Alia Boston of South Carolina, right, celebrates with teammate Victoria Saxton after the Gamecocks beat UConn in the national championship game on Sunday, April 3.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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South Carolina’s Leticia Amher and Bree Hall celebrate their big win.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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Gamecocks goalkeeper Destany Henderson scored a game-high 26 points.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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South Carolina players celebrate with a basket during the game.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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Kristen Williams of Yukon defended Zia Cook of South Carolina during the first half. South Carolina led 35-27 in the first half.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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Aaleh Edwards of Saxton and Ocon hits the ground to drop a ball.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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Boston is filled with a host of UConn defenders.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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South Carolina Head Coach Don Staley was Naismith’s Head Coach of the Year.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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Edwards tries to stop Cook.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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Boston and Caroline Ducharme wrestle for the ball.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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Edwards defends Saxton in the first half.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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UConn coach Geno Auriemma’s reaction during a tough first half for the Huskies. They passed 20-10 and had nine turnovers.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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Edwards shoots a layup in the first quarter.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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Boston’s Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Ocon walked after a loose ball during the first quarter.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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The South Carolina bench’s reaction to play in the first half.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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Nelson O’Doda and Saxton compete for opening tip.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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The rookies in South Carolina prepare for their pre-game presentation.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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Edwards and Nelson-Ododa are introduced to the public at the Minneapolis’ Target Center.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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UConn plays before the game.

Pictures and colon South Carolina wins second national title

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South Carolina participates in pre-game training.

Gamecock’s triple-star defense fended off husky guards – Paige Bueckers, Christyn Williams and Azzi Fudd. Neither Williams Fodd scored until late in the fourth quarter and the Bakers finished the game with 14 points.

“I know our players are tired, but they are determined to be champions today,” South Carolina coach Don Staley said.

UConn was 11-0 in the national championship games before Sunday, which were all under coach Geno Auriemma.

Sunday’s title match was a rematch. South Carolina beat UConn 73-57 in November at Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas, relying on Boston’s 22 points and a stifling defense that kept Husky just 3 points in the fourth quarter.

UConn, the premier women’s basketball program in nearly three decades, finds itself in the strange position of an underdog. UConn, seeded 2 in the tournament, has had 11 starting lineups this season due to a combination of injuries and Covid illnesses.

However, UConn made it to the fourth final by placing first in NC State’s NC State. Epic 91-87 win in overtime doubling, the first time in the history of the NCAA Women’s Championship, a game in the Elite Eight or later required double overtime. They followed that up with 63-58 Beating another stub at Stanford Friday evening to get to the title match.

South Carolina was the highest-rated team since pre-season at 34-2 all year, with each loss by two points or less.

The Gamecocks reached the Final Four by defeating 10 seed Creighton 80-50 then Top-seeded Louisville dropped 72-59 on Friday To access the title game. In the win over Louisville, Boston and its pink and purple braids scored 23 points and had 18 rebounds, a double the 29 of her stellar season.

This was UConn’s 14th consecutive appearance in the Final Four dating back to 2007.

South Carolina has made the Sweet 16 every year since 2014 and won their first National Championship in 2017. They were the highest-ranked team in the country in 2020 when the tournament was called off due to Covid-19 and they lost last year in the Final Four.

The two teams last played in the NCAA tournament in 2018, when UConn beat South Carolina 94-65 to go to the Final Four.