South Carolina rallies, tops Duke to advance to Final Four - ESPN

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — South Carolina has been tested at various points throughout the NCAA tournament, but its biggest came with 29.8 seconds left against Duke in the Elite Eight on Sunday, clinging to a two-point lead.

Veteran Bree Hall was whistled for an offensive foul, sending Ashlon Jackson sprawling to the floor. Hall says she was ready to have a meltdown, incredulous the call went against her. Assistant coach Mary Wooley calmed Hall down, reminding her she had a chance to make a defensive stop on the other end of the floor.

As Duke began to run its offense, the clock ticking down, the ball went to Jackson. Hall got in her face as Jackson attempted a 3-point shot that would have given the Blue Devils the lead. Instead, Jackson missed badly. Hall got the rebound and South Carolina held on 54-50 to advance to its fifth straight Final Four, its quest to repeat as national champions still alive.

«I don't know if it could have happened any more perfect,» Hall said. «Because it was literally like I messed up down there on offense and then turned around and got the ball back on defense. I was very happy.»

The reigning national champions have certainly not made it look easy, nor have they made life easy on themselves. But if Sunday showed anything, it is the resilience that has been on display throughout the NCAA tournament.

Trailing against Indiana at halftime in the second round? Came back to win. Trailing in the fourth quarter to Maryland in the Sweet 16? Came back to win. Each time different players stepped up to make big plays in what has become a trademark to this championship run.

But in both the Indiana and Duke games, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley relied on her starters down the stretch to get the job done. In