Top-seeded South Carolina flew past No. 5-seeded Georgia Tech on Sunday, 76-65, in an easy win that was still the Gamecocks’ tightest game of the N.C.A.A. women’s basketball tournament through three rounds.
The Yellow Jackets kept the game close until the third quarter, when South Carolina forward Aliyah Boston figured out how to break past their defense. She did not score in the first half, but finished with 9 points, one of her lowest totals of the season.
Instead, Zia Cooke attacked Georgia Tech from the outside and Laeticia Amihere, Victaria Saxton and Brea Beal fought through congestion in the paint to keep South Carolina ahead. Cooke had 17 points; Amihere had 15 points and 7 rebounds.
Georgia Tech did not go down easily and converted turnovers into points when it could. But South Carolina’s defense picked up in the fourth quarter, making it impossible for the Yellow Jackets to come back.
Georgia Tech pulled to within 6 points with about four minutes left, but a quick surge in response by the Gamecocks positioned them to simply ride out the clock into the round of 8.
South Carolina will play either No. 6 seed Texas or No. 2 seed Maryland in a regional final. The Longhorns and the Terrapins were scheduled to play on Sunday night.
