The South Carolina Gamecocks and the UCLA Bruins will battle in a basketball championship for the ages. South Carolina seeks its fourth championship, and UCLA is searching for its very first championship win in the NCAA era.
Both the Gamecocks and the Bruins were underdogs against their Final Four opponents, with UCLA taking down the Texas Longhorns as 2.5-point underdogs. South Carolina took down a dominant UConn Huskies squad as 6.5-point underdogs and ended Connecticut’s 54-game winning streak in that highly anticipated matchup.
Marking the first time in NCAA history that the championship game features underdogs in both Final Four matchups to win and play each other in the title game. The Gamecocks come into this matchup as a 4.5-point favorite against the Bruins.
UCLA’s senior center Lauren Betts brings a defensive presence and paint dominance to the court. This was on full display against Texas, where she grabbed 11 rebounds, scored 16 points, and blocked three shots, including the game sealer to halt the late Longhorns’ comeback.
This South Carolina team is built on a defensive powerhouse, with sophomore forward Joyce Edwards leading the charge, averaging close to 20 points per game.
This NCAA Championship matchup is not one anyone would have seen coming at the start of the March Madness tournament. The defense and togetherness of both programs are illustrated in this upcoming matchup.
Will the suffocating defense of the Gamecocks and their ability to drive the paint for contact cause problems for the Bruins? Can UCLA instead continue to ride the high of Betts and take over the pace of the game and cause confusion for South Carolina defensively?
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