Basketball

RandySF

(84,414 posts) Sat Apr 4, 2026, 04:15 AM 4 hrs ago

How South Carolina shut down nation's best-shooting team to beat UConn in Final Four

PHOENIX — Tessa Johnson's message in the huddle was stern.

"Five minutes, five minutes," the junior guard yelled with the clock at 5:53.

South Carolina women's basketball had a five-point lead over UConn, the No. 1 overall seed that came into the Final Four with a 54-game winning streak. Two of those wins were blowouts over South Carolina last season, including the national championship game.

But there was still game left to play.

From beginning to end, the defensive clinic from the Gamecocks (35-3) had the Huskies (38-1) frazzled. An 11-1 run over the last four minutes sent South Carolina to a third straight national championship with a 62-48 victory on April 3.

https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/usc/2026/04/04/south-carolina-womens-basketball-uconn-final-four-defense-dawn-staley/89428871007/

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How South Carolina shut down nation's best-shooting team to beat UConn in Final Four (Original Post) RandySF 4 hrs ago OP

South Carolina was faster and more physical. The court side announcers were describing how SC plays in a dem4decades 27 min ago #1

dem4decades

(14,070 posts)

1. South Carolina was faster and more physical. The court side announcers were describing how SC plays in a

Reply to RandySF (Original post)

Sat Apr 4, 2026, 08:02 AM

27 min ago

league that is very physical and they were used to a style of play were holding and grabbing were common. That said, how does that explain how UCONN only shot 6 foul shots while the more physical team, SC shot 22?

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