South Carolina catches fire from 3, stifles prolific Oklahoma offense to cruise into Elite 8

South Carolina is not a prolific 3-point shooting team.

When it hits at this rate, it’s very difficult to beat. South Carolina caught fire from long distance Saturday and cruised to a 94-68 win over 4 seed Oklahoma in the Sweet 16.

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With the win, the top-seeded Gamecocks advance to an Elite Eight matchup against the winner of Saturday night’s game between No. 3 TCU and No. 10 Virginia. There, the Gamecocks will seek their sixth consecutive trip to the Final Four.

The win also avenges a 94-82 overtime loss to Oklahoma in January, one of South Carolina’s three losses this season.

Gamecocks do it from inside and out

The Gamecocks generally overwhelm their opponents inside the arc and on the boards. On Saturday, they were a force from all over the court.

The Gamecocks started the game on a 10-0 run. By halftime, they were 7 of 11 from 3 and had already exceeded their season average of 6.1 made 3s per game.

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For the game, they shot 10 of 14 (71%) from long distance alongside doing the things that led them to a 33-3 record entering Saturday’s game: controlling the paint, winning the rebounding battle (39-36) and clamping down on defense.

Easy looks were few and far between for the Sooners. An Oklahoma team that ranked fourth in the nation with 86.5 points per game was held 18.5 points below that average. The Gamecocks limited the Sooners to 39% shooting from the field and 30% from 3.

South Carolina’s backcourt sets the pace

On offense, South Carolina met little resistance. Three starters scored 14-plus points, led by Ta’Niya Latson’s 28 points and five assists. Latson shot 7 of 11 from the field and was perfect from 3 (4 for 4) and at the free-throw line (10 of 10).

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“That’s the Ta’Niya Latson I know,” Latson’s backcourt made Raven Johnson told ESPN after the game. “If she does that every night, I don’t see anybody stopping us.”

Johnson also thrived, shooting 8 of 11 from the field and 2 of 3 from 3 while posting 18 points and three assists. Tessa Johnson was 2 for 2 from 3 while shooting 6 of 8 from the field en route to 14 points and four rebounds.

Madina Okot controlled the post while tallying 9 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks. As a team, South Carolina shot 51% from the floor and assisted on 21 of its 34 made field goals.

It was an all-around effort on both sides of the court that should set the tone for South Carolina as it sets its sights on the Final Four. If it gets there, a potential clash against undefeated reigning champion UConn awaits.

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The Huskies will face Notre Dame on Sunday in the Fort Worth 1 regional final. If both teams advance to Phoenix, shots for South Carolina from inside and out won’t come nearly as easy against a stifling UConn defense.

But both teams have to take care of business in their regional final matchups first.