Oregon State guard Aleah Goodman drives to basket ahead of South Carolina forward Aliyah Boston during the first half of the women's NCAA tournament at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. By. AP PHOTO/ERIC GAY
South Carolina beat Oregon State 59-42, with Virgin Islander Aliyah Boston finishing as the team's leading scorer with 19 points to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament on Tuesday night. She also had 7 rebounds, a block and a steal in the team’s "Round of 32" win.
The game was tightly contested in the first quarter with neither team gaining a lead of more than one possession. South Carolina's Destanni Henderson hit the final shot of the quarter to give her team a 14-13 lead.
It was a run in the second quarter that put some distance between the teams. South Carolina was down 15-14 just one minute into the second quarter but went on a 14-1 run over the next eight minutes and built a 28-16 lead with 1:44 left in the half. South Carolina commanded a 30-18 lead at the halftime, with Ms. Boston contributing 11 points in the first half. South Carolina only allowed 5 points in the second quarter.
The halftime break did not stop South Carolina, which opened the third quarter on a 13-3 run — ballooning their lead to 22 points, 43-21 with just over four minutes into the second half.
South Carolina led by 24 points — 53-29 — by the end of the third quarter. Thereafter, they led by at least 20 points for most of the fourth quarter. A lay-up and free throw by Oregon State with less than 10 seconds left was the only time Oregon State was within 20 points in the final quarter.
South Carolina will play Georgia Tech on Saturday or Sunday in the Sweet 16. When the game's date, time and TV Network is announced this story will be updated.
This year's victory leads South Carolina to its 7th straight Sweet 16 appearance.
Ms. Boston is a finalist for the Naismith award for national player of the year in Women’s College Basketball. Fans can vote for her one time every 24 hours until March 31 at 5:59 EST, here.
