Te-Hina Paopao put up a team-high 14 points for South Carolina in the Gamecocks’ win over Texas. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
(C. Morgan Engel via Getty Images)
For the third time in four years, South Carolina is heading back to the national championship.
After a slow start, the No. 1 Gamecocks surged back beat No. 1 Texas, 74-57, in the first matchup of the 2025 Final Four. South Carolina took care of business behind a strong third quarter and an electric performances from Te-Hina Paopao and Joyce Edwards.
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Like many South Carolina wins this year, the game started off slow and Texas pulled ahead to an early lead. But South Carolina battled back to make it a one-point deficit at the end of the first quarter, and held the Longhorns back throughout the second frame as well.
A giant third quarter seemed to seal the deal for the Gamecocks: South Carolina outscored Texas 20-9, which extended a 38-35 halftime lead to 58-44. The lead only grew in the fourth quarter, with a number of key 3-pointers sealing the deal for the Gamecocks.
Nearly every Gamecock chipped in, with every player who got more than a minute of action scoring points in the win. But it was Paopao and Edwards who truly stood out. Paopao picked up 14 points behind three 3-pointers. Edwards added another great game to a stellar freshman season, ending with 13 points, 11 rebounds and six assists off the bench.
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Bree Hall also had a solid game, putting up 11 points and keeping her smile, even after taking a little spill in the third quarter.
It’s a disappointing loss for Texas, who was slightly short-handed: Star forward Madison Booker got into early foul trouble and sat a large portion of the game. Freshman guard Jordan Lee filled in, putting up a game-high 16 points, but she couldn’t turn the tide alone.
Instead, it’ll be South Carolina moving on to the title game, capping off another dominant season with a championship appearance. The Gamecocks will face either UConn or UCLA for the title on Sunday.
