COLUMBIA, SC – It was a nail-biting finish at the Women’s NCAA Final Four as South Carolina battled Iowa for a place in the championship game against LSU.

The game was neck-and-neck from the get-go, with South Carolina taking a slim lead in the first quarter thanks to some impressive plays by guard Zia Cooke. But the Hawkeyes weren’t far behind, with freshman Gabbie Marshall sinking a series of three-pointers to keep the score tight.

By halftime, it was anyone’s game, with the two teams locked at 36-36. Iowa came out strong in the third quarter, with McKenna Warnock sinking a crucial basket to put the Hawkeyes in the lead.

But South Carolina refused to let their title hopes slip away, with standout forward Aliyah Boston bringing the Gamecocks level with a layup late in the quarter. The score remained close until the end, with neither team able to pull away.

With less than a minute on the clock, it was South Carolina’s turn to shine. Boston grabbed an offensive rebound and tipped it in to take a two-point lead. The Hawkeyes had one final chance to tie the game, but Marshall’s three-point attempt missed the mark.

The final score was South Carolina 79, Iowa 77, sending the Gamecocks through to the championship game against LSU. It was a hard-fought victory for South Carolina, who will be looking to repeat their 2017 national championship win.

“We knew Iowa was a tough team, and they gave us everything we could handle,” said South Carolina coach Dawn Staley. “But our girls stepped up when it mattered most, and I’m proud of the way they played tonight.”