Andrea AdelsonMar 30, 2025, 03:46 PM ET
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- ACC reporter.
- Joined ESPN.com in 2010.
- Graduate of the College of Florida.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — South Carolina has been examined at more than a few issues all the way through the NCAA match, however its largest got here with 29.8 seconds left towards Duke within the Elite 8 on Sunday, clinging to a two-point lead.
Veteran Bree Corridor used to be whistled for an offensive foul, sending Ashlon Jackson sprawling to the ground. Corridor says she used to be in a position to have a meltdown, incredulous the decision went towards her. Assistant trainer Mary Wooley calmed Corridor down, reminding her she had a possibility to make a defensive prevent at the different finish of the ground.
As Duke started to run its offense, the clock ticking down, the ball went to Jackson. Corridor were given in her face as Jackson tried a 3-point shot that will have given the Blue Devils the lead. As an alternative, Jackson neglected badly. Corridor were given the rebound and South Carolina hung on 54-50 to advance to its 5th immediately Ultimate 4, its quest to copy as nationwide champions nonetheless alive.
“I have no idea if it will have took place any longer best possible,” Corridor mentioned. “As it used to be actually like I tousled down there on offense after which grew to become round and were given the ball again on protection. I used to be more than happy.”
The reigning nationwide champions have on no account made it glance simple, nor have they made lifestyles simple on themselves. But when Sunday confirmed the rest, it’s the resilience that has been on show all the way through the NCAA match.
Trailing towards Indiana at halftime in the second one spherical? Got here again to win. Trailing within the fourth quarter to Maryland within the Candy 16? Got here again to win. Each and every time other gamers stepped as much as make large performs in what has develop into a hallmark to this championship run.
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However in each the Indiana and Duke video games, South Carolina trainer Daybreak Staley depended on her starters down the stretch to get the activity performed. Along with the massive defensive prevent from Corridor, Chloe Kitts nailed two loose throws with 5 seconds left to seal the sport. It used to be a redemptive second for Kitts, who neglected two loose throws overdue within the 3rd quarter with South Carolina down 5.
Kitts, who completed with 14 issues and Regional MVP honors, mentioned Staley drew up the play for her after the neglected Jackson 3-point try – realizing Duke must foul. To start with, Kitts requested Te-Hina Paopao to be the ball handler, apprehensive about her previous loose throw misses. Paopao refused and instructed her, “Move get the ball.”
“I used to be simply taking a deep breath, and I instructed myself that my trainer sought after me to have the ball on the finish of the sport as a result of she knew I may make my loose throws, and I instructed myself that I am in point of fact just right at basketball and I made either one of them,” Kitts mentioned.
Corridor chimed in: “I used to be on the free-throw line. I used to be screaming, ‘You might be unshakeable! You might be unshakeable! You were given this.'”
Earlier than that second, it appeared dicey.
Although South Carolina set the tone early, the Blue Devils adjusted and grew to become the sport into precisely what they sought after: A defensive combat by which issues had been at a top rate.
Over the general 6:16 of the second one quarter, South Carolina scored one level, on a made loose throw, as Duke chipped away on the lead. Its defensive effort intensified within the 3rd quarter, stymying the Gamecocks at just about each flip. With its offense discovering a groove in the back of freshman Toby Fournier and grasp 3-point photographs, Duke quickly constructed a six-point lead.
But it surely used to be arduous to stay South Carolina down for lengthy. The Gamecocks opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run to retake the lead on Paopao’s jumper, sending the South Carolina-leaning crowd right into a frenzy.
“I assumed they pressured us into taking some unhealthy photographs that just about ended our season,” Staley mentioned. “However on the finish of the day, I assumed once we needed to make performs off of damaged units, we did it within the fourth quarter, and I believe that used to be the variation between them coming again and development the lead and us bearing down and ensuring we win the ones damaged play battles.”
Headed into the fourth quarter, MiLaysia Fulwiley mentioned the message used to be easy. South Carolina were right here sooner than; Duke had now not.
“We simply had been telling every different, ‘We need to combat,'” Fulwiley mentioned. “We need to win. Those groups don’t seem to be higher than us. Those groups do not know how to win at this degree, at the moment of March. They have not been there sooner than. I instructed them y’all had been right here sooner than. Y’all know what to do. Y’all understand how to win and the way to not lose. Simply move in the market and display that.”
Certainly, Staley had the ones veterans with more than one Ultimate 4 appearances at the flooring on the finish of the sport. In all probability sensing that, Duke stored Fournier at the bench with the sport at the line. Duke trainer Kara Lawson mentioned it used to be a trainer’s determination. Fournier led all scorers with 18 issues, however simplest six after halftime.
After Kitts made her loose throws within the ultimate minute, the group, sensing some other Ultimate 4 look used to be close to, stood on its toes and cheered. Paopao and Corridor had been the primary to succeed in part courtroom and have fun and had been quickly joined via their teammates, who’ve made it no secret they need to be the primary staff at school historical past to copy as nationwide champions.
That dream remains to be alive after but some other show of resiliency Sunday.
“It is arduous, particularly once we’re making an attempt to return to again and everybody’s out for blood, particularly towards us,” Paopao mentioned. “We all know that each night time goes to be a combat, and we all know that they will come for us, and we battled thru. We endured, and I am simply tremendous pleased with my staff. I will be able to’t emphasize that sufficient.”
