Birmingham, wing. – Chloe Kitts scored 14 points and the national defender champion of South Carolina reached the last four of the NCAA Women’s Tournament for the fifth consecutive year, beating Duke 54-50 on Sunday.
The best planted gamecocks from coach Dawn Staley are two victories to become the first team to repeat as a champion since UCONN won four followed from 2013 to 16. South Carolina will play the winner of the Texas-TCU game that takes place on Monday night.
The Final Four is Friday night in Tampa, Florida.
The second sown, Duke was looking to reach his first national semifinals since 2006. That team lost in extra time against Maryland in the game of the title. The women of the Blue Devils were also looking to join the male program in the Final Four.
South Carolina (34-3) was hindered during most of the game by Duke’s tacaña. The Gamecocks arrived averaging 80.5 points, but the points were difficult to arrive on Sunday.
The game was tied in 46-there when Sania Feagin, who ended with 12 points, hit a jumper to put the Gamecocks ahead with 4:21 remaining. Kitts added two free throws 42 seconds later to put 50-46.
Toby Fournier, who led Duke with 18 points, scored with 3:21 remaining to recover the Blue Devils (29-8) within the two.
The Blue Devils followed 52-50 with 29.8 seconds when Bree Hall of South Carolina was called for an offensive foul in an incoming play, giving Duke the opportunity to tie the game.
Duke worked in registration before Ashlon Jackson was Airball a triple from the wing with 7 seconds. Hall obtained the rebound and South Carolina called waiting time.
Kitts received a foul with the remaining 5.7 seconds and both sank both free throws to seal the victory to delight most of the 11,252 fans who attended that they made the walk to Alabama.
Duke went around the ball in the incoming play and the Gamecocks were left without the clock.
The Blue Devils lost 26-22 to half before starting the third quarter with a 16-6 race to take their first advantage from the first minutes. The Fournier tray with 2:27 left it 38-32. The Gamecocks followed 42-38 in the direction of the room.
This was the first time the teams met in the postseason.
Duke: With a young core of second -year students, the Blue Devils will seek to build on this elite eight race.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks are now two victories to consolidate their place in the history of female university basketball.
South Carolina lost 42-38 in the fourth quarter before scoring the first eight points of the period. The Gamecocks never followed after that.
South Carolina has largely trusted her bank throughout the season, but Duke’s reserves exceeded the 24-9 Gamecks subs.
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