Fournier’s game-high 18 points not enough as Duke falls to South Carolina in women’s March Madness Elite Eight

Chloe Kitts was the star of the show as defending national champion South Carolina secured their spot in the Final Four of the women’s NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive year with a hard-fought 54-50 victory over Duke on Sunday. The top-seeded Gamecocks, led by Coach Dawn Staley, are now just two wins away from making history by becoming the first team to repeat as champions since UConn’s four-peat from 2013-2016. Their next challenge will be against the winner of the Texas-TCU game set to take place on Monday night, with the Final Four scheduled for Friday night in Tampa, Florida.

Despite Duke’s staunch defense that held South Carolina well below their season average of 80.5 points, the Gamecocks managed to eke out a crucial victory in a nail-biting encounter. The game was tied at 46-all when Sania Feagin stepped up with a clutch jumper to give South Carolina the lead with just over four minutes remaining. Chloe Kitts then added two free throws to extend the lead to 50-46. Toronto native Toby Fournier led the charge for Duke with 18 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome South Carolina’s resilience.

With just under 30 seconds left on the clock, Duke had a chance to tie the game after a controversial offensive foul call against South Carolina’s Bree Hall. However, a missed 3-pointer by Ashlon Jackson dashed their hopes, and Kitts sealed the win with two free throws to the delight of the fans in attendance. The Blue Devils turned the ball over on the ensuing inbound play, allowing the Gamecocks to run out the clock and secure their spot in the Final Four.

Duke had trailed 26-22 at halftime but staged a comeback in the third quarter to take a brief lead. Fournier’s layup put them ahead 38-32, but South Carolina fought back to take control in the final quarter. This matchup marked the first postseason meeting between the two teams, adding an extra layer of intensity to the game.

As the excitement builds towards the Final Four, South Carolina will be looking to continue their quest for back-to-back championships, while Duke will have their sights set on regrouping for another run next season. With the stage set for an epic showdown in Tampa, basketball fans can expect more thrilling action as the tournament reaches its climax.