South Carolina defeats UConn to win the NCAA women's basketball title

By Eric Levenson and Amir Vera, CNN

Updated 0259 GMT (1059 HKT) April 4, 2022

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley celebrates with her team after winning the NCAA women's basketball championship Sunday in Minneapolis.

(CNN)The South Carolina Gamecocks won their second national championship in five years Sunday afterdefeating the Connecticut Huskies 64-49.

The name of the game Sunday was defense and offensive rebounds for the Gamecocks, who controlled the game from the start with a 13-2 lead in just the first six minutes of the game. It was the fewest points the Huskies had scored in a quarter this season. The Gamecocks outrebounded the Huskies 49-24 in the win. The Huskies went on two runs — a 9-0 run in the second quarter and a 10-0 one in the third — but the Gamecocks kept the lead the entire game. South Carolina guard Destanni Henderson and forward Aliyah Boston were the stars of Sunday's game. Henderson ended the game with 26 points and Boston with 11. Read More«I've been thinking about it since last season, everyone had a picture of me crying. But today we're national champions and I'm in tears,» Boston said, referring to last year's Final Four loss to Stanford. Photos: South Carolina wins second national titleSouth Carolina's Aliyah Boston, right, celebrates with teammate Victaria Saxton after the Gamecocks defeated UConn in the national championship game on Sunday, April 3.Hide Caption1 of 24Photos: South Carolina wins second national titleSouth Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, center, celebrates with her team as Boston lifts the trophy.Hide Caption2 of 24Photos: South Carolina wins second national titleBree Hall savors the big win.Hide Caption3 of 24Photos: South Carolina wins second national titleThe Gamecocks