South Carolina poised for another run despite falling short to UConn

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — South Carolina’s reign as national champions is over, however the future remains promising for the Gamecocks under Dawn Staley, who has transformed her program into a perennial Final Four contender over the past decade.

While the team’s bid for a fourth NCAA title in four years fell well short in an 82-59 loss to Paige Bueckers and UConn on Sunday, a talented core of players return next season when Staley will try to lead the Southeastern Conference champions to a sixth consecutive Final Four.

Despite coming off the bench, freshman Joyce Edwards (12.7 points) led the Gamecocks in scoring during the regular season. The teams other top scorers — sophomore MiLaysia Fulwiley (11.8) and junior Chloe Kitts (10.2) are underclassmen, too, and Staley has already bolstered the roster with a strong recruiting class led by Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell.

“Our kids gave it all they had. When you can understand why you lost and when you’ve been on the other side of that three times, you understand it. You can swallow it," Staley said. "We lost to a very good basketball team.”

Junior Ashlyn Watkins is also making progress in recovering from a season-ending knee injury that’s sidelined her since January.

The Gamecocks shot poorly in Sunday night. They also had no answers defensively for UConn’s Big Three of Bueckers, Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd — who was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player.

After losing 87-58 at home to UConn on Feb. 16, South Carolina rattled off 12 straight wins before running out of gas Sunday.

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