South Carolina Soars Past NC State, Heads to NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship

In the first half of Friday’s Final Four game, NC State women’s basketball defied expectations. Despite being the underdogs against the undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks, the Wolfpack put up a strong fight. While they trailed for most of the first half, they never fell behind by more than two possessions. The score was tied at the end of the first quarter, and by halftime, South Carolina only had a one-point lead.

However, things took a turn in the second half. South Carolina came out strong, making seven of their first nine shots in the third quarter. He quickly extending their lead to 12 points. Despite a timeout, the Gamecocks continued to dominate, eventually leading by as much as 24 points by the end of the quarter.

In the end, South Carolina secured a comfortable 78-59 victory over NC State, putting an end to the Wolfpack’s hopes of winning a national championship in Cleveland, Ohio.

Women’s basketball tournament

This year’s NCAA women’s basketball tournament has captured the nation’s attention like never before, overshadowing even the men’s brackets. Clark’s incredible performance over the past year helped shine a spotlight on the many talented players in this year’s tournament, including Angel Reese from LSU, Paige Bueckers from UConn, JuJu Watkins from USC, and Kamilla Cardoso from the University of South Carolina. Clark, who recently became the highest-scoring basketball player in NCAA history, along with Reese and Cardoso, have announced their plans to enter the WNBA draft in 2025.

ESPN’s April 1 broadcast of the LSU-Iowa Elite 8 game, which sent Iowa to the Final Four, attracted a record-breaking 12.3 million viewers, setting a new high for women’s college basketball on TV. The game was especially exciting as it was a rematch of last year’s NCAA championship game, where LSU emerged victorious with a score of 102-85. This sets the stage for high viewership for both the upcoming Final Four games on Friday and the championship game on Sunday.

Third-Quarter Collapse Decides Fate

At halftime, the Wolfpack (31-7) found themselves trailing, but it wasn’t by much, just because Mimi Collins missed a free throw. However, in the third quarter, things took a turn for the worse. The Gamecocks (37-0) took off, leaving the Wolfpack in their wake. NC State’s defense, once strong, allowed 29 points on a 60% shooting rate, while their offense struggled to make an impact. South Carolina’s defense shut down NC State, holding them to only one made basket a layup by Aziaha James and a mere six points in the entire third quarter.

Overall, despite a close first half, the Wolfpack couldn’t keep up with the Gamecocks’ dominant performance in the third quarter, ultimately leading to their defeat.

Baldwin’s Defensive Performance

Senior center River Baldwin faced the daunting task of defending All-American player Kamilla Cardoso, showing mixed results in her efforts. While Cardoso delivered an impressive offensive performance, scoring 22 points and making her first six shots, Baldwin demonstrated glimpses of defensive excellence when it mattered most. Despite the challenges, Baldwin managed to make three steals during the game, matching her career-high. This marked a significant achievement for Baldwin, as it was the first time since January 2022, during her time at Florida State, that she recorded at least three steals in a single game.

Overall, Baldwin’s defensive performance against Cardoso showcased moments of both struggle and success, highlighting her ability to rise to the occasion despite facing formidable opponents.