Dawn Staley and South Carolina got the upper hand on Vic Schaefer once more Tuesday night, routing sixth-seeded Texas 62-34 to achieve the Final Four.
The Longhorns’ 34 points were the fewest in the regional rounds of the women’s championship, just less than St. Bonaventure handled against Notre Dame from the 2012 Sweet 16.
This will be South Carolina’s third visit to the Final Four — since Staley took over.
Staley got the very best of all them, such as beating Schaefer’s Bulldogs for the SEC championship title in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020, as well as at the greatest prize of allin the 2017 national championship sport.
“I believe we played with 15 times and they had been barn burners,” Staley, who’s currently 13-3 against Schaefer, stated before Tuesday’s match. “I always looked forward to enjoying Vic due to everything he puts into match preparation, scouting reports and scheming.
“Any match we played with was a near game for us,” Staley added. “That is why I look forward to it since I know what to anticipate.”
So did Schaefer, also it did not matter.
South Carolina was just too great, also experienced for Texas, that was creating its first Elite Eight appearance since 2016. The Gamecocks needed a double edged lead midway through the first quarter, and brushed aside any effort from Texas to rally. The Longhorns couldn’t handle a field goal in the fourth quarter, missing all 15 of the own shots.
Following Texas cut South Carolina’s lead to 24-17, Zia Cooke ran seven factors along with Victaria Saxton scored on a layup, stole the ball on the opposite end and made another layup to cap a 13-2 run. Texas never got inside double digits .
Even Schaefer’s trademark lockdown defense could not impede South Carolina, together with the Gamecocks shooting at a blistering 57 percent in the first half. South Carolina, meanwhile, plagued the Longhorns to 14 of 61 shooting (23 percent) and 15 turnovers, also had 14 blocks.