Olivia Miles did everything she could on Monday night, but it was not enough as the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball pulled away in the fourth quarter to defeat the TCU Horned Frogs women’s basketball 78-52 in the Elite Eight.
The win sends South Carolina to the Final Four for a sixth consecutive season and sets up a rematch with No. 1 overall seed UConn Huskies women’s basketball, who have dominated all season. Remarkably, all four No. 1 seeds advanced to Phoenix, and the Final Four lineup is identical to last year, a rare occurrence in NCAA history.
TCU started strong with a 12-4 run that gave them an early eight-point lead, fueled by Miles’ early performance. South Carolina quickly responded, making eight of their next 12 field goals and ending the first quarter with a two-point lead. The Gamecocks extended their advantage in the second quarter with a 17-5 run capped by a Joyce Edwards jumper before halftime. TCU also faced a challenge when star Marta Suarez left briefly with a rolled ankle but returned for the second half.
South Carolina Overpowers TCU to Set Up Highly Anticipated UConn Final Four RematchMiles Returns Despite Injury as South Carolina Dominates TCU to Final Four Rematch
Miles suffered a leg injury late in the third quarter but returned to start the fourth. Even with her presence, TCU could not regain momentum. South Carolina’s Agot Makeer sparked a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter, quickly pushing the lead to 20 points and securing the win.
Miles finished with 18 points and six assists. Taylor Bigby added 10 points, and Suarez contributed nine points with five rebounds. South Carolina was led by Edwards with 24 points and 12 rebounds, and Makeer with a career-high 18 points off the bench. The Gamecocks also dominated the boards 52-24.
The victory sets up a highly anticipated Final Four rematch between South Carolina and UConn. Last season, UConn defeated South Carolina 82-59 in the national title game. South Carolina will need a stronger start to compete with UConn, which won its regular-season games by an average of 37.8 points. The rematch promises to be a marquee showdown in women’s college basketball.
