MINNEAPOLIS — After spending the entire season atop the national polls, South Carolina had gotten used to playing as a favorite every night. Friday, when the Gamecocks faced fourth-ranked Louisville in the NCAA semifinals, things were no different.
South Carolina got to the Final Four by meeting every challenge with poise. It stuck to that script at Target Center, dispatching the Cardinals, 72-59, to reach Sunday's NCAA title game. The Gamecocks, who won the 2017 NCAA championship in their last title game appearance, will face the winner of Friday's second semifinal between Stanford and Connecticut.
National player of the year Aliyah Boston paced the Gamecocks on offense and defense, with 23 points and 18 rebounds. South Carolina's stellar defense played a big part. The Gamecocks limited Louisville's leading scorer, guard Hailey Van Lith, to nine points, the first game in the tournament that Van Lith did not score 20 or more.
