Final Four Game 1: South Carolina Surges Past Texas 74–57, Advances to Title Game
South Carolina is heading back to the national championship game.
The Gamecocks (35–3) used a dominant second-half performance to pull away from Texas (35–4), winning 74–57 in the national semifinal Friday night at Amalie Arena. Behind a career night from freshman Joyce Edwards and a lockdown third quarter, South Carolina secured a shot at its third national title under head coach Dawn Staley. They’ll face the winner of UConn vs. UCLA in Sunday’s championship game.
? 1st Quarter – Texas Punches First
Score: Texas 19, South Carolina 18
Texas opened with a fiery 8–0 run and controlled much of the first frame behind sharp shooting and a confident presence from Madison Booker and Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda. The Longhorns shot 50% in the quarter and took a one-point edge into the second. South Carolina kept pace thanks to 14 bench points, with Milaysia Fulwiley and Joyce Edwards providing the spark.
2nd Quarter – Gamecocks Find Their Groove
Halftime: South Carolina 38, Texas 35
South Carolina’s offense came alive in the second, with Te-Hina Paopao drilling two key threes and Edwards continuing her two-way dominance. Texas stayed close thanks to Jordan Lee, who scored 9 in the quarter, but the Gamecocks’ improved ball movement (6 assists) and interior scoring pushed them ahead before the break.
3rd Quarter – Defense Turns the Tide
Score: South Carolina 58, Texas 44
This was the defining stretch of the game. South Carolina held Texas to just 3-of-13 shooting and forced 4 turnovers, while continuing to get quality shots from Paopao, Edwards, and Chloe Kitts. A 10–2 run midway through the quarter created breathing room, and SC never looked back.
4th Quarter – South Carolina Seals It
Final: South Carolina 74, Texas 57
(SC 16 – TX 13 in Q4)
Texas made one last push with late threes from Lee and Codio, but South Carolina had all the answers. A dagger three by Bree Hall and clutch free throws down the stretch from Paopao helped the Gamecocks close strong. South Carolina’s size, depth, and defensive discipline proved too much as they outscored Texas 36–22 in the second half.
Player of the Game: Joyce Edwards
- 13 points
- 7 rebounds
- 6 assists
- 2 steals
- Shot 4-of-9 from the field and 4-of-4 from the line
The freshman phenom led the team in scoring, rebounding, and assists — an all-around gem on the biggest stage yet.
Final Team Stats
| Category | South Carolina | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| FG % | 50.9% (29-57) | 48.4% (30-62) |
| 3PT % | 63.6% (7-11) | 27.3% (3-11) |
| FT % | 90.9% (10-11) | 87.0% (20-23) |
| Rebounds | 36 | 37 |
| Assists | 17 | 14 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 14 |
| Points in Paint | 40 | 28 |
| Bench Points | 35 | 27 |
| Fast Break Points | 15 | 3 |
What’s Next?
South Carolina will play in its third national championship game in four years. They’ll face the winner of the second semifinal between UConn and UCLA, with tipoff set for Sunday night.
