Rusty in crunch time, women's Final Four teams brace for tight games after so many blowouts
PHOENIX (AP) — This year's Final Four at the women's NCAA Tournament features a quartet of powerhouse programs, teams that have overwhelmed almost all of their opponents with superior talent and veteran coaching. They have size. They are athletic.
They have pedigree. But they haven't faced a ton of on-court adversity — particularly in March. That could change on Friday night when UConn faces South Carolina and Texas meets UCLA in the national semifinals at Mortgage Matchup Center.
After beating up on inferior adversaries for the majority of March, it's time for the game's elite to pick on someone their own size. Here's how they're preparing for potential clutch moments this weekend. South Carolina (35-3) The Gamecocks have had a few tough losses this season, including two to Texas.
They also dropped a road game against Oklahoma, blowing a seven-point halftime lead before losing in overtime . South Carolina got its revenge last week, beating the Sooners in the Sweet 16. The Gamecocks haven’t faced much friction in the NCAA Tournament, winning their four games by an average of 40.
3 points. Coach Dawn Staley said the way to stay fresh for late-game situations is to simulate them in practice so that players are comfortable when tense moments come. For instance, during last week’s regional in Sacramento, the coach said they made sure to go over sidelines inbounds plays since the benches were in a spot that was different than most of the games they had played.
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