NCAA women’s basketball: South Carolina, UConn advance to title game

By The Associated Press TAMPA Fla AP Defending national champion South Carolina left no doubt it would return to the title battle getting points from Te-Hina Paopao and overwhelming Texas - on Friday night in the Final Four of the women s NCAA Tournament The Gamecocks are a win away from becoming the first band to secure consecutive titles since UConn won four straight from - Freshman Joyce Edwards added points rebounds and six assists for South Carolina - which used its experience and poise to weather an early deficit and took control with its depth at both ends of the floor Three South Carolina players finished in double figures Bree Hall had points and the Gamecocks dominated Texas in the post with points in the paint to the Longhorns Madison Booker had points and three fouls for the Longhorns - who were trying to reach their first championship since They were in the Final Four for the first time since after a dominant season which was their first in the Southeastern Conference after coming over from the Big Texas went - against the SEC in the regular season and shared the conference title with the Gamecocks UCONN UCLA TAMPA Fla AP Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd didn t even need much help from superstar Paige Bueckers to propel UConn into the national title event leading the Huskies to a remarkably easy win over UCLA in the Final Four of the women s NCAA Tournament Strong finished with points and Fudd scored all of her points in the first half for the second-seeded Huskies who are one win away from their th national championship and first since the club won four straight from - led by former great Breanna Stewart The eight-year title drought is the longest for the Huskies since they won their first in UConn will face defending champion South Carolina on Sunday for the title after the Gamecocks beat Texas - earlier Friday night It s a rematch of the championship tournament which the Gamecocks won - The teams met in February and UConn shocked South Carolina with a -point road achievement Bueckers finished with points after topping in each of the previous three games for the Huskies -