Latson, Johnson energy South Carolina into the Elite Eight – College of South Carolina Athletics

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Ta’Niya Latson scored 28 factors and Raven Johnson added 18 to assist top-seed South Carolina beat No. 4 seed Oklahoma 94-68 on Saturday and advance to the Elite Eight of the ladies’s March Madness match.

South Carolina will face the winner of the TCU-Virginia sport on Monday night time for the possibility to go to the Final Four in Phoenix from the Sacramento 4 Regional.

The Gamecocks have superior to the nationwide semifinals in six of the previous eight Final Fours and received three nationwide championships throughout that stretch. Oklahoma was on the lookout for its first journey to the regional for the reason that 2009-10 season which was the Sooners’ final time within the Final Four.

The Gamecocks (34-3) jumped out to a robust begin behind Latson, who was taking part in in her first Sweet 16. The senior guard performed the primary three years of her profession at Florida State earlier than coming to South Carolina this season. She scored eight of the groups first 10 factors because the Gamecocks went up 10-0.

Johnson scored 9 factors because the Gamecocks have been up 23-13 after the primary quarter.

Oklahoma (26-8) turned the ball over on three of its first 4 possessions within the second quarter and South Carolina took benefit. Latson’s four-point play with 46 seconds left within the half made it 47-28. The Sooners received a cease on the subsequent possession, however Sahara Williams missed a wide-open layup simply earlier than the buzzer.

Gamecock Notables 

• With the win over Oklahoma, the Gamecocks advance to their sixth straight Elite Eight look.
• South Carolina was scorching from 3, capturing 71.4 % (10-for-14) for a brand new season excessive. The first 5 made 3s of the sport all got here from completely different gamers.
• Nine of 10 obtainable Gamecocks scored, with 4 ending in double figures and all 5 starters scoring at the least eight factors.
• Ta’Niya Latson had a monster outing, ending with 28 factors to steer the offense on 4-of-4 capturing from past the arc, 7-of-11 from the ground, and an ideal 10-of-10 on the free throw line in ever first ever profession Sweet 16 look.
• Raven Johnson completed with 18 factors, placing up 16 of them within the first half and draining two 3s that prolonged the Gamecocks’ result in double digits.
• Tessa Johnson went off within the third quarter, scoring 11 of her 14 factors in a solo run, all inside simply eight minutes on the ground.
• Agot Maker tallied 10 factors for her third consecutive sport with double figures, scoring half within the fourth quarter to go alongside three assists, two rebounds, and a steal.