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South Carolina vs. NC State In The NCAA Women's Final Four: What To Know

South Carolina vs. NC State In The NCAA Women's Final Four: What To Know

The NCAA Women's Final Four will feature No.1 South Carolina vs. No.3 NC State. Here's five things to know ahead of the April 5 matchup.

Apr 4, 2024 by Deondre Hayes
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The NCAA Women's Final Four will tip off with No.1 South Carolina vs. No.3 NC State on April 5 at 7 p.m. EST. The double header will also host No.1 UConn vs. No.3 Iowa at 9:30 pm in Cleveland, Ohio at the Rocket Mortgage Field House. 

South Carolina returns to the Final Four for the fourth straight year after defeating No.3 Oregon State 70-58 in the Elite Eight. Last year, the Gamecocks lost in the Final Four 77-73 to Iowa.

The Gamecocks are seeking their third NCAA title under Dawn Staley, who has led South Carolina to National Championships in 2017 and 2022. 

NC State Women's Basketball finds themselves in the Final Four for the first time since the 1997-1998 season. The Wolfpack has had multiple Sweet 16 and Elite Eight appearances since then, but no postseason runs quite like this one in 2024. 

Here's a look at the 5 things to know ahead of the South Carolina vs. NC State Final Four game.

NCAA Women's Final Four South Carolina vs. NC State: 5 things to Know

Here's five things to know ahead of the Iowa vs. UConn game scheduled for April 5 at 6:00 pm CT. 

Kamilla Cardoso Will Be A Problem For NC State

Cardoso has been making waves all season and is considered one of the higher potential WNBA Draft picks playing in the NCAA Tournament. Cardoso is major presence inside at 6-foot-7 that any opponent must account for. Here's a look at her last three NCAA Tournament games. 

  • 12 Points, 9 rebounds vs. Oregon State
  • 22 Points, 7 rebounds vs. Indiana 
  • 12 Points, 10 rebounds vs. UNC

NC State has two centers in River Baldwin at 6-foot-5 and Lizzy Williamson at 6-foot-5 who have the size to matchup with Cardoso, whether they can match her intensity and athleticism is a question that remains. 

South Carolina vs. NC State Women's Basketball NCAA History

The Final Four matchup will mark the 33rd meeting of these two teams with NC State leading the all-time series 20-12. South Carolina won the most recent matchup, however, in 2021, with a 66-57 victory.

Here's a look at the last 10 meetings between South Carolina and NC State. 

  • November 9, 2021    Raleigh, NC    South Carolina    66-57
  • December 3, 2020    Columbia, SC    NC State    54-46
  • December 4, 2011    Raleigh, NC    NC State    55-53
  • December 12, 2010    Columbia, SC    South Carolina    77-63
  • December 13, 2009    Columbia, SC    South Carolina    74-71
  • January 4, 2009    Raleigh, NC    South Carolina    56-55
  • March 24, 2008    Raleigh, NC    NC State    72-69
  • November 29, 2006    Raleigh, NC    NC State    53-41
  • December 16, 2004    Columbia, SC    NC State    75-48
  • December 4, 2000    Columbia, SC    NC State    55-48

Women's Final Four South Carolina vs. NC State Odds 

South Carolina is favored to win over NC State on Friday April 5, here's a look at the odds. (Via FanDuel) 

  • Spread: South Carolina (-11.5)
  • Over/under: 139.5 points

Aziaha James has Nothing To Lose, Everything To Gain

James is the leading scorer for NC State this season averaging 16.7 PPG and shooting 34% from three as a junior. The numbers James is producing are drastic improvements from her sophomore season where she averaged 6.8 PPG and shot 28% from three. 

In her most recent game vs. No.1 Texas, James scored 27 points and shot 7-of-9 from deep, nearly hitting her season-high of 33 points which she scored against Duke in January. 

Although James may not have the stardom of the other elite guards in the Women's Final Four, her skill level is on par. Helping lead this NC State team to the Final Four after losing in the first round last year is a major achievement of its own ... and whether the Wolfpack can defeat South Carolina or not will have no stain on her season. 

After this postseason run with NC State James will have the option to return to NC State or hit the NCAA Transfer Portal where her stock is now highly desired. 

NC State Women's Basketball Shot At History In Final Four

Any College Women's Basketball fan over the last 20 years is familiar with the South Carolina dynasty that Dawn Staley has molded. What many may not be familiar with is the job Wes Moore has done at NC State. 

Since Moore took over the program in 2013, the Wolfpack have been relevant every year in the NCAA Tournament with three Sweet 16 appearances and one Elite Eight appearance. 

The Wolfpack are now in the Final Four for the first time since 1998 with a chance at their first NCAA Championship title. A chip is essentially all NC State needs to re-solidify themselves as a top contender in the ACC and Women's College Basketball. 

The last time NC State had this much momentum was during their three consecutive ACC Tournament Championships from 2020-2022. 

When Is The Women's National Championship?

The winners of the Final Four will face off in the National Championship on April 7 at 3:00 pm EST. 

When Is The WNBA Draft 2024?

The WNBA Draft is scheduled for April 15 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York.  

This marks the first time the WNBA Draft will be a seated event with fans in attendance since the 2014-2016 drafts held at Mohegan Sun Arena. 

Watch NCAA Women's Basketball On FloHoops

NCAA Basketball is streaming live on FloHoops and the FloSports app. The BIG EAST Digital Network also is on FloHoops and the FloSports app.

FloHoops Archived Footage

Video footage from all events will be archived and stored in a video library for FloHoops subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

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