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TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM AND COACHES FOR WINNING THE 2017 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP AND CAPTURING ITS FIRST NCAA TITLE.
Whereas, on April 2, 2017, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team made history winning its first NCAA championship title with a 67-55 victory over the Mississippi State University Bulldogs in Dallas, Texas. The victory capped off a magical 33-4 season that included a third consecutive SEC championship and the ultimate prize, a national title; and
Whereas, the Gamecocks trailed early in the first quarter but, after a 9-0 run, led the Bulldogs 21-14 and stretched the lead to 36-26 at the half. After a pair of second half surges, both of which closed the gap to four points, USC's A'ja Wilson and Allisha Gray scored a combined eight unanswered points to seal the victory; and
Whereas, junior All-American, two-time SEC Player of the Year, A'ja Wilson, led her team to victory with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 2 steals, and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four championship. In the semi-final match-up against Stanford University, she had delivered yet another double-double with 13 points and 19 rebounds; and
Whereas, junior transfer Allisha Gray, the team's silent assassin, also delivered a double-double in the championship game with 18 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks, and 1 steal, and she led the team in scoring against Stanford with 18 points. She was named to the All-Final Four Team with A'ja Wilson; and
Whereas, junior transfer Kaela Davis, scored 10 points in the championship game. A scoring threat inside and out, she was named Most Outstanding Player of the Stockton Regional championship, scoring a combined total of 77 points before even reaching the Final Four, including three straight games of more than 20 points; and
Whereas, junior Bianca Cuevas-Moore played tenacious defense, holding the Bulldogs stellar point guard to 6 points and stifling her throughout the contest. She also contributed 5 points, 2 assists and even 1 block. Freshman point guard Tyasha Harris again was cool, calm, and collected, and provided 6 points, 2 assists, and 1 steal; and
Whereas, unable to play in the NCAA tournament due to an injury, First Team All-SEC senior Alaina Coates set the table for the championship run, with a team-high in rebounds (300) and shooting percentage (67%). She also led the SEC in double-doubles with 15 this season; and
Whereas, the road to the Final Four was challenging with the line-up changes, but the Gamecocks persevered defeating the University of North Carolina Asheville (90-40), Arizona State University (71-68), Quinnipiac University (100-58), Florida State University (71-64), and Stanford University (62-53); and
Whereas, with the victory, Coach Dawn Staley adds a national championship to her many other accolades as a player and coach and has, with her staff and players, built a winning program with a nation-high average attendance of 12,777 per game for the season. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and congratulate the University of South Carolina women's basketball team for winning the 2017 NCAA championship and capturing its first NCAA title.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the University of South Carolina women's basketball team and Coach Dawn Staley.
This web page was last updated on April 4, 2017 at 6:29 PM