This article was first published by the Tampa Bay Times on April 6.
TAMPA — Dawn Staley entered Sunday afternoon unblemished as a head coach when competing in the final game of the women’s college basketball season, one win from South Carolina’s quest for consecutive national championships. Until her Gamecocks ran into a familiar foe in the UConn Huskies.
South Carolina fell one win short of immortality in yet another blowout loss to UConn this season, in an 82-59 final at Amalie Arena.
The title game followed a similar script to when the teams squared off Feb. 16, an 87-58 drubbing in Columbia, South Carolina, that ended a 71-game home win streak for the Gamecocks. UConn’s big victory Sunday snapped Staley’s three-game win streak in national championship games.
“Our kids gave it all they had, and when you can understand why you lost, and when you’ve been on the other side of that three times, you understand it,” said Staley. “You can swallow it.”
While the Gamecocks held projected WNBA No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers relatively in check in both matchups, the Huskies can go at their opponents in a multitude of ways. Azzi Fudd was a force for UConn yet again against South Carolina, scoring 24 points after recording 28 in February. Sarah Strong had another double double, scoring 24 and recording 15 rebounds.
“They’re good. They work well together, super unselfish. They’re incredibly skilled and then the role players dagger you with the 3,” said Staley. “You’ve got to have a really good day in order for you to beat them.”
All five South Carolina starters found the bottom of the basket by the first media timeout, starting the game 6-of-10 from the field. The good balance the Gamecocks began the game with disappeared after that, ending the first half on a 4-of-22 cold streak that resulted in a 10-point halftime deficit despite a much better team effort on the glass and holding UConn to one made 3-pointer.
“I feel like we just missed a lot of shots to be honest. I feel like a lot of the easy shots that we usually hit, we missed,” said Joyce Edwards, who along with Tessa Johnson led the Gamecocks in scoring at 10 points each. ”But credit to UConn’s defense. They’re in the gaps, but at the same time, I feel like we got to where we wanted to be. We just had to finish.”
The Huskies stepped on the throats of the Gamecocks to start the second half, riding an 11-point quarter from Fudd to double their lead by the end of the third. From there, UConn cruised to the program’s 12th national championship.
For now, South Carolina’s run of five consecutive Final Four appearances ends with two titles in three years.
“I hope they’re boo-hooing, because from crying and having emotion about losing makes you work a little bit hard in the offseason,” Staley said of her players.
While Staley hopes her players are temporarily hanging their heads, the graduating class of Gamecocks can smile about their run of success.
“I’m just not as upset as you would think I would be. I’m just so appreciative of everything that this program has done for me,” said senior Bree Hall. “The coaches put me in a great position. I’ve won two national championships.
“It’s upsetting of course to lose, and you’re right there, but I can’t express how appreciative I am of this program and I’ve just had such a great experience here.”
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Thumbnail image caption: South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley is animated during the second half of Sunday’s championship final at Amalie Arena. [ JEFFEREE WOO | Times ]