How to watch South Carolina vs. Indiana: Odds, storylines for women's NCAA Tournament matchup
Dawn Staley's South Carolina Gamecocks are the team to beat in the world of women's basketball. They've been atop the AP poll in six consecutive seasons and are seeking a third national title in four years. The draw couldn't be tougher for the Indiana Hoosiers, who will tip off Sunday as double-digit underdogs in Columbia.
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Indiana's top seven scorers this season were all juniors or seniors. Yarden Garzon led the Big Ten in 3-point shooting (41.5 percent on almost seven tries per game), while fifth-year guard Sydney Parrish and Penn State transfer Shay Ciezki also looked confident from long distance. The Hoosiers are balanced, patient and can score in flurries with the 3-ball. But they slumped down the stretch, finishing 5-5 in their last 10 games.
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Teri Moren presided over a comfortable victory in the first round. Indiana shot 58 percent from the field against Utah, winning by 8 points despite a cold afternoon beyond the arc and a losing margin on the offensive glass. This team will need everything it can possibly muster to pull the enormous upset.
South Carolina started its title defense in style, beating 16th-seeded Tennessee Tech by 60 (sixty!) points. Six Gamecocks had at least eight points, headlined by Joyce Edwards' dominant 9-for-12 performance. The freshman forward led the team in scoring despite finishing sixth in minutes per game. This may be Staley's deepest team to date. If Edwards finds herself contained, the offense can still cruise through steely sophomore MiLaysia Fulwiley, fleet-footed big Chloe Kitts and WNBA Draft-bound Te-Hina Paopao … among several others.
The winner punches a ticket to the Sweet 16. Anything less than the Final Four for South Carolina would be shocking.
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(Photo by Sean Rayford / Getty Images)
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