South Carolina Surges Past Duke to Secure Fifth Consecutive Final Four Appearance
In an exhilarating showdown, South Carolina fought back from a four-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Duke 54-50, clinching their fifth straight Final Four spot.
A Battle of Paces
Both teams struggled to find their rhythm, with Duke effectively controlling the tempo, leading to prolonged scoring droughts. South Carolina managed a shooting percentage of 43.2% from the field, while Duke struggled at just 31.7%. Turnovers plagued both sides, with Duke committing 19 and South Carolina 16. The Gamecocks were particularly hindered in their transition game, managing a mere nine fast-break points throughout the match.
Early Momentum for the Gamecocks
South Carolina burst out of the gates, racing to an early 10-2 lead and extending it to an 11-point advantage during the second quarter. However, Duke tightened their defense, holding South Carolina scoreless from the floor for almost eight minutes across the second and third quarters, allowing them to leap ahead.
Fourth Quarter Comeback
Led by a determined group of seniors, South Carolina opened the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run to reclaim the lead. This critical surge began with Te-Hina Paopao sinking two free throws at the end of the third quarter, flipping a 42-36 deficit into a narrow lead.
Sania Feagin started the comeback with a turnaround jumper, followed by Raven Johnson contributing a pair of free throws to tie the game at 42. Paopao then drove for a crucial layup to take the lead, before Chloe Kitts, the lone underclassman on the court, scored a tough layup to extend the advantage.
Duke Fights Back
Duke responded with a jumper, and although Feagin drew contact on a subsequent layup attempt, no foul was called. Toby Fournier, who topped the scoring charts with 18 points, drove through traffic to even the score at 46, but her free throw attempt to put Duke ahead fell short.
Clutch Plays in the Final Moments
As the shot clock wound down, Feagin executed a driving layup to regain the lead. She closed the game with impressive stats, finishing with 12 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Kitts, who then extended the lead with her own layup, forced a turnover shortly after, but South Carolina missed their next scoring opportunity.
Oluchi Okananwa, the ACC Tournament MVP, kept Duke in contention by scoring to narrow the gap to 52-50. Feagin’s missed layup led to a rebound that the Blue Devils knocked out of bounds, giving South Carolina a key possession with just under 30 seconds remaining.
Critical Defensive Stand
South Carolina’s Hall was charged with an offensive foul on the inbounds, running into Ashlon Jackson. Duke called a timeout to strategize, but South Carolina’s defense held firm. Jackson attempted a three-pointer for the lead but ended up airballing the shot.
Hall secured the rebound, and following a timeout, Kitts confidently sank two free throws to give South Carolina a 54-50 lead. Hall then deflected Duke’s inbounds pass, allowing Feagin to grab the loose ball and seal the victory.
Player Highlights
Kitts, who added the Regional MVP trophy to her SEC Tournament MVP accolade, finished with 14 points and four rebounds, boasting a stellar 7-10 from the free-throw line and a flawless 4-4 in the fourth quarter.
In contrast, MiLaysia Fulwiley, the star performer in the previous game, struggled to find her footing, contributing just five points and facing multiple traveling violations that led to four turnovers.
Duke outperformed South Carolina on the boards, with a 41-30 rebounding edge. The Gamecocks especially faltered in this aspect in the third quarter when Duke collected 12 out of the 24 rebounds available. However, South Carolina rebounded strongly in the fourth quarter, outpacing Duke 12-8 on the boards.
Game Notes
South Carolina sported their “Cocky” alternate uniforms during this intense matchup. Their five consecutive Final Four appearances now tie for the second-longest in NCAA history. Support came from several members of the Highlighters, South Carolina’s practice team, who enthusiastically donned bright yellow t-shirts from the stands. Maddy McDaniel and Maryam Dauda also made brief appearances at the end of the third and second quarters, respectively.
The Gamecocks hit 13 of 20 from the free-throw line. The All-Regional team included Ashlon Jackson, Toby Fournier, MiLaysia Fulwiley, Sania Feagin, and MVP Chloe Kitts. Notably, Head Coach Dawn Staley showcased a chic white Chanel hoodie paired with garnet Chanel pants. The game drew an announced attendance of 11,252, as South Carolina looks forward to their next game on Friday at the Final Four in Tampa.
