CLEVELAND, OH (WNCN) —The North Carolina State women’s
basketball team has already knocked off a No. 1 and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament so far. Now, if they want to advance to the championship game, they’ll have to do what no other team has done so far this season: defeat the South Carolina Gamecocks. The No. 3 Wolfpack (31-6) and the No. 1 Gamecocks (36-0) face off in the first Final Four game on Friday night. Tip off from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland is set for 7 p.m. Though this South Carolina squad has yet to lose a game this season — and even with Dawn Staley winning the Associated Press’ Coach of the Year award — the team has largely flown under the radar this year, with most of the media hype focusing on Caitlin Clark and Iowa and Angel Reese and 2023 champions LSU. But the Gamecocks have quietly put together a stellar season, winning both the Southeastern Conference regular season title and conference championship, which they earned by outlasting LSU. During this NCAA Tournament, they’ve knocked out Presbyterian, North Carolina, Indiana and Oregon State. Since losing to Notre Dame for the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title, NC State has gone on an impressive NCAA Tournament run, topping Chattanooga and Tennessee and upsetting Stanford and
Texas en route to Cleveland. Aziaha James has been especially impressive, averaging 24.3 points in the postseason so far. Friday’s game will be the 33rd meeting between NC State and South Carolina, but their first time facing off in the NCAA Tournament. The Wolfpack hold a 20-12 lead in the all-time series. Here’s how to watch their Final Four matchup. 7 p.m. Friday, April 5 Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland OH
ESPN (Subscription required) 88.1 FM (Raleigh), Westwood One Sports affiliates across the country The Gamecocks are an 11.5-point favorite over the Wolfpack, according to ESPN BET. The over/under is 139.5.