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2017 Women’s NCAA Tournament: South Carolina vs. Mississippi State preview, prediction, TV schedule

By Daniel Benjamin

Mar 31, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs guard Morgan William (2) shoots the game winning shot in overtime against Connecticut Huskies guard Gabby Williams (15) in the semifinals of the women's Final Four at American Airlines Center. The Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs defeated the Connecticut Huskies 66-64. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 31, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs guard Morgan William (2) shoots the game winning shot in overtime against Connecticut Huskies guard Gabby Williams (15) in the semifinals of the women's Final Four at American Airlines Center. The Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs defeated the Connecticut Huskies 66-64. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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There will be a new NCAA women’s basketball champion crowned in Dallas on April 2.

TV: April 2, 6:00 pm. (ET), ESPN/Watch ESPN

Arena: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas.

In the most shocking development of quite an unusual basketball season, the top-ranked Connecticut Huskies will not be playing in the 2017 NCAA women’s basketball title game. Meaning that, for the first time in five years, a team other than the UConn Huskies will be crowned champions.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs will face the South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA women’s basketball championship final. The Bulldogs and the Gamecocks are each making their first appearance in the NCAA championship game.

Mississippi State (34-4) earned their berth in the title game by holding off UConn 66-64 in overtime on Friday night. The loss snapped the Huskies’ record 111 game win streak.

Miss State got off to a quick start and led most of the way until the middle of the third quarter. The game went back and forth from there. Victoria Vivians’ three-pointer gave the Bulldogs a 60-59 lead with 1:17 left though the Huskies tied it up 49 seconds later as Napheesa Collier made one of two free throws. Miss State had a chance to win the game but Morgan Wiliam had her layup attempt swatted away by Gabby Williams with three seconds left.

William, the smallest player on the court, would get even in overtime. Miss State, following Saniya Chong’s turnover, got the ball back with less than 13 seconds left. As the clock was ticking down, William received the ball with five seconds left and started to drive before pulling up and draining a 15-foot jumper at the buzzer.

William finished the game with 13 points and six assists. Vivians led the way for Miss State with 19 points despite missing 12 of her 18 shots.

South Carolina (32-4) is in the national championship game as a result of their 62-53 victory over Stanford in the semifinals.  The Gamecocks struggled in the first half against a tough Cardinal defense. Trailing 28-20 at halftime, the Gamecocks scored 13 straight points in the third quarter to take a 41-37 lead after 30 minutes.

Allisha Gray scored 13 of her game-high 18 points in the second half to lead South Carolina. A’ja Wilson posted her fourth NCAA tournament double-double with 13 points and a career-tying 19 rebounds.

This game marks the first time two SEC teams will battle for the national championship. The winner will become just the second SEC team to win a women’s national title. Tennessee has eight national championships to lead the conference, though its last title came in 2008.

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