Three keys for South Carolina in the Women’s Final

South Carolina Four points are heading for the fourth quarter against Duke in Eight Eight. Gamecocks were 10 minutes to keep its season alive.

Hary refused She told her teammates to start quickly in the first five minutes to get the lead back. Mailasia Fulwileia They urged higher classes not to build on the acquisition of bad shots to remember that the ruling national champions are, a team who knows how to win when it matters most.

Bree Hall I remembered the text message she had received on the day of the former teammate Aliyah Boston, and told her to stay calm in great moments to come to her.

Houda broke and the Gamecocks started to the floor. Ferdian Started scoring on the jumper. Raven Johnson Hit two free throws. Before Paopao made a layout and Chloe Kitts It followed by layout in color, the crowd pro-South Carolina was mad.

South Carolina had the first management since the beginning of the third quarter. Duke pushed Gamecocks to finish before Hall Defensive Stop closed 54-50 victories and a place in Final Four.

But for the third consecutive game, they needed Gamecocks comeback to win. For the second game in a row they needed a rally in the fourth quarter.

Coach South Carolina Dawn Staley admitted that it would not always look nice and the nerve four -point victory in Sweet 16 and Eight Eight left some interrogations as to whether South Carolina can start it back. Gamecocks sometimes looked unrelated, bought bad missiles and made atypical mistakes. And their bench that leads the nation in scoring was not as consistent as in the regular season as a newcomer Joyce Edwards was neutralized and Fulwiley was up and down.

Gamecocks don’t think what happened in Birmingham, suggests that they are vulnerable in Tampa.

“These teams are really good,” said Hall in the dressing room after the victory over the Duke. “I don’t know why everyone expects to throw us all out.

However, he has South Carolina, whom he has to worry about trying to repeat and win his third championship in four years – especially on Friday (19:00 et, ESPN) against TexasOne team that could be able to find a weakness because they have been played three times this season?

What can we take away from how Gamecocks have worked in the NCAA tournament and how could it affect the results in Tampa?

The bench must get off

One of the largest strengths for South Carolina this season is that his reserves were not only good, but dynamic. Edwards-Kterný had 22 points in the first round, but since then he combined 15 in three games-she had the first All-Sec team. Fulwiley was the sixth woman of the league of the year, but after scoring 23 points against Maryland, she had only five against Duke. Colleague Sophomore Tessa Johnson He is another player to start for most programs, but is based on a bench for South Carolina.

The depth made gamecocks a nightmare to devote most of the time. Against Duke, however, had to rely on her experienced appetizers, because the bench did not contribute much.

Starters Kitts, Feagin, Johnson, Paopao and Hall played virtually all over the fourth district vs. Blue Devils and scored all except nine points.

Edwards is the leading shooter of Gamecocks this season and Staley said they would need it in Tampa.

“It is a gift and a curse that you are our leading scorer, so people will get into zero and the scheme will reduce its production in half,” said Staley about Edwards. “Therefore, there is a short gap between winning us and losing basketball games.

“(We) we just have to talk to her. We really simplify things for her. Things come to her fast, so it’s hard. I know she wants to play well. Hopefully we can show her a movie where she can be effective. But we need it.

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The crime of South Carolina must be improved vs. Texas

Gamecocks and Longhorns are strong defensive teams. Watching how Texas closed TCU well in his 58-47 elite eight victories over Horned Frogs, he must arouse some concerns for South Carolina.

“I just hope we can change a little,” she said after the victory of the Duke. “It seems that we can’t just play a little smoothly. But I thought we played with a much better pace than we (in Sweet 16).”

Gamecocks are 2-1 this year against longhorns. South Carolina won at home 67-50 at home 12 January. February 9, Longhorns won 66-62 at home. In the final of the SeC tournament in Greenville, South Carolina, March 9 won the Gamecocks 64-45.

Texas forward Taylor Jones They said the teams know each other so well, there will be no surprise.

“It will come to toughness and gravel,” Jones said. “At other times we played them, decided who was the toughest team that night. And unfortunately we weren’t in two of them.”

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It is important to maintain patience and not rattle

The pressure was on Gamecocks in the last two games, but they did not panic. This is an important part of the attempt to win two more games for another title.

South Carolina went through it earlier. Even last season, when Gamecocks ended undefeated, they were pushed in both regional games. They defeated Indiana 79-75 in the nail and then Oregon State 70-58 in a game that was close until South Carolina took over in the last three minutes.

Then they went to Final Four and defeated the state NC 19 and Iowa for 12 for the third NCAA title.

Staley said that this year’s team immediately solves problems.

“We managed things in real time,” she said. “I really don’t think I had a team that was able to communicate soon – when we see something, we’re acting. They don’t expect until a week later.

“They really want to be the best they can be and are not afraid to be vulnerable and discuss shortcomings. They just want to know how (they) can interfere.”