NCAAW News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Morgan William of the Mississippi State had the dagger that ended UConn's 111-game winning streak at the 2017 Women's Final Four on March 31, 2017. Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

Women's NCAA Championship: Third time's the charm for South Carolina-Mississippi St

By Jason Clinkscales | Last updated 4/1/17

So, the Women's Final Four. Were you not entertained?

The giant slayer heard ‘round the world grabbed the attention of millions late on a Friday night. In a tense national semifinal matchup, a last second jumper from Mississippi State point guard Morgan William over the outstretched arm of Gabby Williams not only ended the 111-game winning streak of the Connecticut Huskies, but it put the Bulldogs in their first ever national championship game.

Yet, it wasn’t the only great game of the evening. It took some smart halftime adjustments, but the South Carolina Gamecocks bested a Stanford team that had spent most of the NCAA tournament surprising opponents from behind. With thanks to A’Ja Wilson dominating the boards and Allisha Gray’s 18 points to lead SC, head coach Dawn Staley finally got one over the school that caused so much heartbreak in her stellar playing and coaching career.

And so here we are in a most unexpected national championship game, except to the two teams that spent the entire season looking over one another’s shoulders.

There’s an old adage in college basketball that it’s hard to beat a team three times in one season. The Bulldogs had no answer for Wilson’s 26 points and nine rebounds as the Gamecocks took the close 64-61 win back in January. In the SEC Championship Game, South Carolina had a little more breathing room in a 59-49 win where they held Mississippi State to 35.6% shooting, including just four points in the fourth quarter.

Yet, if one believes in the impossibility of three wins over one team in a season, he or she sees that the Bulldogs have the advantage. Not only does Mississippi State know the South Carolina personnel and coaching style, but there seems to be an incredible emotional lift from these last two games that should carry it forward on its mission. Yet, there’s still the matter of execution that bedevils them. After sputtering on offense in the SEC final against SC, the ladies of Starkville were left to sort themselves out headed into the NCAA tournament.

In the final game of the women’s college basketball season, here are two players that should have a significant impact on which team becomes the first non-Tennessee SEC program that will win a national championship.

Players to watch

Teaira McCowan, Mississippi State

Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs center Teaira McCowan will be busy defending South Carolina's A'Ja Wilson. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Believe it or not, the diminutive William does overshadow one of the game’s biggest players, the 6’7” center from Brenham, Texas. McCowan will be tasked with defending A’Ja Wilson, whose poor shooting first half against Stanford didn’t stop her from making a grand impact with her rebounding and second half defense. It may behoove SC coach Staley to move Wilson around the court in order to pull McCowan out of the paint. In the likelihood that happens, it will be interesting to see if McCowan will be able to not only keep up with Wilson, but still maintain a shot-blocking presence.

In addition, she will have to assert herself somewhat on the other end. When Mississippi State gets her the ball, she has to prove that she can hurt South Carolina with her post game. McCowan had a good effort against Connecticut with ten points, eight rebounds, two steals and a block. The Bulldogs need more offensive options so that they aren’t so reliant on getting points from the backcourt of William and Victoria Vivians, the latter who fouled out late in the UConn game. The sophomore is a 57.4% shooter from the field, mainly because she’s so much bigger than most opposing centers. In two games off the bench against the Gamecocks this season, McCowan made all five of her shots in the loss back on January 23 in South Carolina and notched a double-double (15 points and 13 rebounds, three blocks) in the SEC Championship Game last month. Now in the starting lineup, if #HailState takes advantage of McCowan’s interior game, a title is certain.

Allisha Gray, South Carolina

Allisha Gray of the South Carolina Gamecocks was a key asset for SC in their win over Stanford. Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

As previously noted, SC has spent the last few weeks playing without their top center Alaina Coates, which has meant that not only has Wilson had to play with her back to the basket more than usual, but Gray has had to add a bit more on the scoring front. Taking on that role was crucial after a brutal first half of play for the Gamecocks versus Stanford where the team seemed slow to find its footing against the Cardinal’s zone defense. Her shooting, in particular, was a welcomed sight as she went 7-for-14 to go with eight boards and two dimes. It was a three pointer with just about four minutes left in the fourth quarter that kept Stanford at arm’s length and put SC in its first-ever national championship game.

Gray wasn’t a major offensive factor in the SEC title game last month with just two points and three rebounds, but she didn’t exactly have to be with how well she defended on the perimeter. However in January, she frustrated Mississippi State with 17 points, seven rebounds and just one turnover. The team’s leader in minutes played and best perimeter defender, South Carolina will need Gray to have boundless energy to chase either William or Vivians around while finding her own shots on the floor for nearly 40 minutes.

While many were expecting the conquerors of the last four years to joust with history on Sunday night, any permutation of the Final Four teams that came to Dallas was likely to produce a memorable championship game. Just because the familiar faces of the UConn Huskies or even the Stanford Cardinal have gone home, doesn’t mean that a classic won’t be played for the grandest prize in the sport.

More must-reads: