South Carolina and TCU secure Women’s Elite Eight spots with big wins
Top seeds South Carolina and third seeds TCU have advanced to the Elite Eight of the Women’s NCAA Tournament following commanding Sweet 16 victories on Saturday.
The pair will now face each other for a coveted spot in the Final Four after a thrilling day of collegiate basketball.
Michigan and Texas also demonstrated their might, controlling their respective matchups to successfully book their places in the next round.
Gamecocks stifle Sooners to advance
South Carolina ruthlessly dismantled Oklahoma 94-68 to highlight their championship credentials.
The tournament favourites completely disrupted the offensive rhythm of their opponents from the opening tip-off.
They restricted the Sooners to fewer than 70 points for just the fourth time this season.
A major key to the emphatic victory was the defensive containment of Raegan Beers.
The imposing 6ft 4in senior centre was frequently double-teamed by a physically imposing rotation, limiting her to just five made field goals on the night.
Miles and Suarez power Horned Frogs
Earlier in the day, TCU overcame a sluggish start to defeat tenth seeds Virginia 79-69 and reach their second consecutive Elite Eight.
Trailing at the end of the first half, the Horned Frogs sparked into life with a devastating 11-point scoring streak immediately after the break.
The dynamic duo of Olivia Miles and Marta Suarez were utterly unplayable, combining for a staggering 61 points.
Remarkably, the pair scored or assisted on every single one of their team’s 79 points during the contest.
Virginia’s Kymora Johnson fought valiantly to energise her squad and apply pressure in the paint.
However, the Cavaliers simply could not match the blistering second-half pace dictated by the masterful passing of Miles.
A heavyweight Elite Eight clash awaits
TCU must now prepare for a daunting encounter against a formidable South Carolina defence.
If the Texas-based programme are to cause a monumental upset, they cannot afford another slow start.
They will need to establish early offensive dominance and capitalise on the playmaking brilliance of their star guard to break down the top seeds.