Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

As defending national champion, No. 1 seed South Carolina was guaranteed to get opponents’ best shot through the Women’s NCAA Tournament. Friday’s Sweet 16 matchup in Birmingham Region 2 with No. 4 seed Maryland should be no exception.

The Gamecocks (32-3) rallied from a sluggish first half and one-point intermission deficit in its 64-53 second-round win over Indiana. Chloe Kitts’ 10-point, 11-rebound double-double and Te-Hina Paopao’s four blocked shots set the tone. South Carolina leveraged a 37-27 advantage on the glass and stingy defensive effort to overcome offensive lulls.

“Parity is alive and well in our game,” said Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley. “I do know that you have to be disciplined. You have to create some really good championship habits in order for you to continue to get back to this place.”

Maryland (25-7) came back from a 17-point deficit, including as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter, to force overtime in its second-round matchup with Alabama. The Terrapins eventually bested the Crimson Tide in two extra frames, 111-108.

While much different scores, Maryland and South Carolina each advanced on a strength that Terrapins guard Shyanne Sellers said could determine Friday’s contest. Maryland outrebounded Alabama, 46-37.

“It’s going to be a battle of the boards,” said Sellers. “We rebound very well. They rebound very well.”

Maryland has a plus-8.7 per game edge on the glass for the season, while South Carolina is plus-8.3 — two of the best averages in the nation.

No. 2 Duke vs. No. 3 North Carolina

Historic rivals Duke and North Carolina add an unprecedented March Madness chapter to the series in Friday’s first game of the regional in Birmingham, Ala.

“There’s not a lot of firsts that can be done at Carolina because it’s such a rich program with a lot of great history,” Tar Heels wing Alyssa Ustby said.

Duke coach Kara Lawson said she did not know that Friday’s matchup is the first in the NCAA Tournament between the programs.

“We’re fighting for a spot in the Elite Eight, and so whoever the opponent is, is the opponent,” Lawson said.

Both the second-seeded Blue Devils (28-7) and third-seeded Tar Heels (29-7) are looking to advance to their first Elite Eight in more than a decade. Duke last advanced to a regional final in 2013; North Carolina in 2014.

They split their regular-season matchups, with the host winning each time. Duke took a 68-53 decision on Feb. 27, a receipt for North Carolina’s 53-46 overtime win on Jan. 9.

Reigan Richardson’s five 3-pointers and 23 points led Duke in its win. Ashlon Jackson delivered a similar performance to help the Blue Devils past Oregon 59-53 on Sunday in the previous round. Jackson was 5 of 9 from deep on the way to 20 points.

Ustby scored 21 points in North Carolina’s second-round win over West Virginia on Monday.

–Field Level Media