MSU falls to SC in NCAA Championship game

A'ja Wilson scored 23 points to help coach Staley and SC win their first national championship with a 67-55 victory over Mississippi State on Sunday night.

This was the sixth time in NCAA Tournament history that teams from the same conference played for the national championship, including three by the SEC.

William was never much of a factor, even sitting during a fourth-quarter run that got Mississippi State within four after the Bulldogs trailed by as many as 14 points in the third quarter.

How many are actually inclined now to watch Mississippi State take on SC today at 5 p.m. for the championship?

Mississippi State guard Morgan William (2) shoots the game winning shot shot over CT guard Gabby Williams (15) during overtime in an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the women's Final Four in Dallas on Friday, March 31, 2017.

It's been a quick rise for the Mississippi State program, which has usually been an afterthought in the Southeastern Conference until Schaefer arrived.

The Gamecocks also were happy for William, who tearfully dedicated a 41-point performance in a region final win over Baylor to her late stepfather.

Mississippi State lists its starting point guard, Morgan William, as 5 feet 5 inches (1.65m).

Mississippi State had all the momentum on its side after a shocking win over UConn on Friday night that ended the Huskies' record 111-game winning streak.

The Gamecocks took away the championship trophy from the Bulldogs and, for that, the MSU team and the coaches as well as the fan base was heartbroken.

No. 2 seed Mississippi State, ranked 7 nationally, has earned the right to play in the game by defeating two number 1 seeds in overtime in their last two games, Baylor 94-85 and UConn 66-64.

"I guess it's great".

"You just keep going", Semrau said. "To get all this attention.it's overwhelming". "But it's exciting because it's for a great cause".

"I just kind of shook my head. I'm used to being low key, shy, minding my business".

Bulldogs guard Morgan William, a 5-foot-5 junior, is coming off the buzzer-beating shot that took down the four-time champs in overtime.

The Huskies (36-1) entered the taut, thrilling game - one full of runs and lead changes and suspense - with a ideal record but were not a flawless team. Amid the postgame celebration, the quarterback of America's Team joined William on the floor for an interview.

Perspective anyone? The Super Bowl of course is the granddaddy of all American sports events, watched by millions involving the most popular sport in the country.

"(South Carolina) certainly was in attack mode", Schaefer said. McCowan said she didn't even think twice going into the final quarter. She stepped back, jumped, leaned in and let it fly. "We have one more game to prepare for". "We had to prove that we're a way better team than we were a year ago".

"The first game we had against them at their place, it's a knockdown, drag-out, came down to one play", Schaefer said.

UConn is a cut above everyone else in women's college hoops.

Mississippi State returned home to a supportive crowd on-campus in Starkville Monday and some time together for the Bulldogs gave way to a big picture mindset. Wilson scored 23 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked four shots as she guided the Gamecocks to a 67-55 win and the program's first national title. After her shot that has seemingly been heard 'round the world, William's phone has been blown up by hundreds of texts. "He was like, 'I want the ball in your hands.' Sort of like coach Schaefer". "Just having the confidence that I can make something happen, and I live for moments like that now". Karnowski, who said he was bothered by some blurred vision, left for the last 5 minutes of the half, but Collins picked him up, finishing with 8 points at halftime.

When asked in interviews how tall she is, her response is "Whatever the paper says, that's how tall I am".

"Well, I was very close with my parents both, and I buried both of them", Schaefer recalled earlier this week. "I don't think it really matters right now". "But there's always next year and maybe more years after that too".

"You have to give tribute to the former players", Staley said.

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