By James Seidel | CC News Network Sports
Published: March 31, 2025

ALBANY, N.Y. — There was never any doubt that Sunday’s Elite Eight showdown between No. 1 South Carolina and No. 2 Duke would be a slugfest—and for 40 gritty minutes, both teams delivered just that. But in the end, it was the undefeated Gamecocks who held their ground, outlasting the Blue Devils 54–50 to secure a trip to their fifth consecutive Final Four under head coach Dawn Staley.

Duke’s Toby Fournier was dominant early, fueling the Blue Devils’ offense in the opening frame. But South Carolina responded with a balanced effort from Sania Feagin, Chloe Kitts, and MiLaysia Fulwiley. Raven Johnson provided a crucial spark at the top of the second quarter, drilling a 3-pointer, while Feagin and Kitts combined for 12 points to help the Gamecocks enter halftime with a 26–22 lead.

Duke came out strong in the third quarter, outscoring South Carolina 20–12 to take a 42–38 lead heading into the final frame. Ashlon Jackson and Reigan Richardson combined for 15 points in the period and ignited momentum for the Blue Devils.

But the fourth quarter belonged to the Gamecocks—and their fans, who roared through every possession. A driving layup from Te-Hina Paopao gave South Carolina the edge early, followed by a clutch jumper from Kitts that made it 46–42. Still, the Blue Devils didn’t go quietly. Fournier tied the game at 46 with just under five minutes remaining.

Feagin broke the stalemate with a go-ahead basket, and the teams continued to trade punches as the clock wound down. With South Carolina up 52–50 and under 30 seconds to play, Johnson fed Feagin for a contested layup that missed. The ball went out of bounds and possession was reviewed, ultimately resulting in a charge call against the Gamecocks—much to the dismay of the South Carolina crowd.

Duke had a chance to take the lead, but Jackson’s three-point attempt missed. Bree Hall secured the rebound with 6.4 seconds left, and the Gamecocks never looked back. Kitts was fouled on the inbounds and calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to 54–50. A final turnover from Duke sealed the win.

Feagin finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, showcasing her two-way dominance. Kitts led all Gamecocks with 14 points, including several clutch free throws down the stretch. Paopao and Johnson added nine and seven points, respectively—timely contributions from two veterans expected to declare for the WNBA Draft in the coming weeks.

With the win, South Carolina improves to 34–3 on the season and advances to the Final Four in Tampa, where they will face either No. 1-seed Texas or No. 2-seed TCU on Friday, April 4.

For Coach Staley and her undefeated post season squad, the road to perfection continues—just two wins away from another national championship.

James Seidel covers NCAA women’s basketball and SEC athletics for CC News Network Sports. Follow him on X @CrimeAndCask or visit www.crimeandcask.com/sports for more coverage.

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