South Carolina women's basketball vs Iowa highlights score updates: Dawn Staley leads Gamecocks to third national title

CLEVELAND – South Carolina women's basketball is back in the NCAA championship game.

The No. 1 seed Gamecocks (37-0) have a rematch from last season's Final Four, but this time they face No. 1 seed Iowa (34-4) and National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark in the national championship at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ABC). South Carolina has a chance to be the first team to complete an undefeated championship season since UConn in 2016.

The Gamecocks blew out No. 3 seed NC State 78-59 on Friday to advance to their third national championship appearance in program history. South Carolina is 2-0 in national championship games, winning NCAA titles in 2017 and 2022.

Iowa is playing in back-to-back Final Fours for the first time in program history. The Hawkeyes are playing in their second straight national championship game after beating No. 3 seed UConn 71-69 on Friday.

FINAL: South Carolina 87, Iowa 75

The Gamecocks closed out the game on a 7-0 run, holding Iowa scoreless in the final four minutes. Tessa Johnson's career-high 19 points led South Carolina and Kamilla Cardoso logged a double-double (15 points, 17 rebounds). Dawn Staley added a third trophy to the case and South Carolina becomes the first team to complete an undefeated championship season since 2016.

South Carolina 78, Iowa 72 with 4:39 left in the fourth quarter | Iowa closing the gap

South Carolina didn't make a field goal for three minutes as Iowa chipped away at the lead. The Hawkeyes were outscoring the Gamecocks 13-10 in the fourth quarter at the last media timeout of the game. Caitlin Clark had scored a game-high 30 points on 10-for-25 shooting and Tessa Johnson led South Carolina with 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting.

End of the third quarter: South Carolina 68, Iowa 59

South Carolina outscored Iowa 19-13 in the third quarter to build a 68-59 lead. Tessa Johnson made a massive impact off the bench and led the team with six points in the third on a perfect 2-for-2 from 3-point range. Johnson led the Gamecocks with 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting with three rebounds, a steal and an assist.

South Carolina 65, Iowa 55 with 2:40 left in the third quarter | Bree Hall continues to be clutch

Iowa switched to a zone to keep South Carolina out of the paint. But that's not problem for this year's Gamecocks. They swung the ball to Bree Hall and she drained a 3-pointer to cap off an 8-0 run. South Carolina built a 10-point lead near the end of the third, and has shot 7-for-15 from 3-point range.

South Carolina 55, Iowa 46 with 7:59 left in the third quarter | Lisa Bluder wants timeout

South Carolina picked up right where it left off at halftime. The Gamecocks went on a 6-0 run to start the quarter, led by four points from Chloe Kitts on a perfect 2-for-2 shooting. Iowa coach Lisa Bluder called a timeout after Te-Hina Paopao hit a jumper to make it a nine-point lead.

HALFTIME: South Carolina 49, Iowa 46

Raven Johnson stole the ball from Caitlin Clark as she dribbled out the clock, waiting for the last shot of the half. Johnson flew down the court and hit her layup to give South Carolina a 49-46 lead – its largest lead of the game – going into halftime. The Gamecocks had seven players score in the first half, led by Kamilla Cardoso's 11 points. Clark scored a game-high 21 points in the first half – South Carolina held her to three points in the second.

Three Gamecocks in foul trouble with three minutes left before halftime

Tessa Johnson went after a loose ball and collided with an Iowa player with 2:58 left before halftime. She was whistled for her second foul on the play and checked out of the game. She was the third Gamecock to get called for two fouls and head to the bench. Ashlyn Watkins and Bree Hall were already sitting with two fouls.

South Carolina 36, Iowa 36 with 4:11 left in the second quarter

South Carolina outscored Iowa 16-9 to open the second quarter to tie the game up. The Gamecocks shot 53.8% from the field and were led by seven points each from Kamilla Cardoso and Tessa Johnson in the second – both shot a perfect 3-for-3. Caitlin Clark was 0-for-4 in the first six minutes of the second quarter.

Kamilla Cardoso ties game on and-one

Kamilla Cardoso blocked a shot on defense and then she tied the game the next possession. She finished through contact, drew the foul call and knocked down the free throw to make it 27-27 with 8:21 left in the second quarter.

End of first quarter: Iowa 27, South Carolina 20

The Gamecocks settled in and started hitting shots, and the spark started with freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley subbing in the game after the media timeout. She assisted a bucket immediately and scored seven points on 3-for-4 shooting in the three minutes she played. Caitlin Clark had a game-high 18 points on 5-for-8 shooting in the first quarter.

Iowa 20, South Carolina 9 with 4:45 left in the first quarter | Gamecocks shots not falling

South Carolina opened the game shooting 4-for-14 from the field. Kamilla Cardoso struggled to finish, going 2-for-5 to start. The Gamecocks got called for two early fouls on two Caitlin Clark 3-point attempts, and she went 5-for-6 from the free throw line. She had a game-high 13 points at the media timeout with 4:45 left in the first quarter.

Iowa 18, South Carolina 9 with 5:48 left in the first quarter | Iowa off to a dominant start

Iowa scored 10 straight points to open the national championship game before South Carolina got on the board. National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark had 11 points to lead the Hawkeyes.

South Carolina vs Iowa live score updates in NCAA championship

What channel is South Carolina vs Iowa on today? How to watch, stream live

• TV channel: ABC

• Stream: Fubo TV

The Gamecocks will tip off vs. the Hawkeyes on ABC. Streaming options include Fubo, which offers a free trial. Announcers for the game are Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo and Holly Rowe.

MORE:Watch South Carolina women's basketball vs. Iowa in March Madness on Fubo (free trial)

South Carolina vs Iowa start time, TV info, location

• Start time: 3 p.m. ET

• TV info: ABC

• Location: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, Ohio

South Carolina vs Iowa preview

South Carolina: The Gamecocks are 37-0 and in the Final Four for the fourth consecutive year. Last season, they fell in the Final Four to Iowa. South Carolina won the national championship in 2022.

Iowa: Iowa has made back-to-back trips to the Final Four and national championship game for the first time in program history. The Hawkeyes are 34-4 after beating UConn 71-69 on Friday in the Final Four. Iowa beat South Carolina in the Final Four last year to go to the NCAA title game.

South Carolina vs Iowa odds, betting line, spread

Odds according to BetMGM.

• Spread:  South Carolina (-6.5)

• Over/under: 159.5

• Moneyline: South Carolina (-275), Iowa (+220)

South Carolina vs Iowa prediction, game picks

South Carolina 89, Iowa 85: This is far from the same South Carolina team that Iowa defeated last season. It has a chip on its shoulder — it was the last time the Gamecocks lost. In a matchup between the two best teams in the country, South Carolina will find yet another way to come out on top.

South Carolina vs Iowa stats

South Carolina

• PPG: 85.4

• PPG allowed: 56.1

• FG%: 49.3%

• 3PT%: 39.5%

• NCAA NET ranking: No. 1

Iowa

• PPG: 91.4

• PPG allowed: 71.5

• FG%: 49.8%

• 3PT%: 37.6%

• NCAA NET ranking: No. 5

South Carolina vs Iowa championship odds

Odds according to BetMGM:

South Carolina: -200

Iowa: +300

South Carolina basketball schedule 2023-24

The past five games of South Carolina's 2023-24 basketball season. For the full schedule, click here

• March 22 vs. Presbyterian (W, 91-39)

• March 24 vs. North Carolina (W, 88-41)

• March 29 vs. Indiana (W, 79-75)

• March 31 vs. Oregon State (W, 70-58)

• April 5 vs. NC State (W, 78-59)

• April 7 vs. Iowa (NCAA Tournament championship)

Iowa basketball schedule 2023-24

The past five games of Iowa's 2023-24 basketball season. For the full schedule, click here.

• March 23 vs. Holy Cross (W, 91-65)

• March 25 vs. West Virginia (W, 64-54)

• March 30 vs. Colorado (W, 89-68)

• April 1 vs. LSU (W, 94-87)

• April 5 vs. UConn (W, 71-69)

• April 7 vs. South Carolina (NCAA Tournament championship)

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This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: South Carolina basketball live score updates vs Iowa for NCAA title