After falling just short in last year’s Final Four, No. 1 South Carolina took care of business against No. 1 Louisville, 72-59, to advance to the title game.
Double-doubles are typical for Gamecocks star Aliyah Boston, but the Naismith Player of the Year took it to the next level by scoring 23 points, 18 rebounds and four assists — and even hit a 3-pointer to match Louisville's output from the entire team.
Not only did @aa_boston lock in her 29th double-double of the season, she also owns a new single-season rebounding record!
— South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB) April 2, 2022
51-38, Gamecocks, 4:34 to go in the third. pic.twitter.com/i2eYkgzJrm
South Carolina’s defense stifled Louisville offensively. The Gamecocks limited leading scorer Hailey Van Lith, keeping her to only 4 for 10 shooting. She had only 9 points after reaching 20+ in the four previous NCAA tournament games.
Senior forward Emily Engstler stepped up, scoring 18 points while pulling down nine boards, but fouled out with less than 5 minutes in the fourth.
Engstler retreated to the bench in tears feeling the national championship hopes slip away, something South Carolina knew well just a year ago.
South Carolina will next play for the program's second national title.
Click here to read the quarterly updates from South Carolina's Final Four victory.
"We're not going home... We've got ONE MORE GAME!"
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) April 2, 2022
- @aa_boston#WFinalFour x @GamecockWBB pic.twitter.com/H29dTiLgia