SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
All of the women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament Final Four teams have stellar individuals either tall or small, but there’s plenty of other talent on each roster as the Friday showdown approaches.
To start with top-ranked undefeated South Carolina, its All-America is 6-foot-5 senior scorer-rebounder Aliyah Boston, but it adds size and strength underneath with 6-7 Syracuse junior transfer Kamila Cardoso, and turning to the guards, there’s 5-9 senior Zia Cooke, 5-8 freshman Devon Johnson and 6-1 senior Bria Beal.
So the 36-0 Gamecocks do have balance, size and guard play. And in the semifinals at NRG Stadium in Houston, they play No. 2 Iowa (30-6) in the closer, and go with six seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and a pair of freshmen.
The Hawkeyes have won their last eight after beginning the season at 6-3 and then sporting a 12-4 record. The Big Ten school has lost to Maryland, Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina State, Connecticut and Kansas State, and are led by 6-foot junior All-America wing Caitlin Clark and she carries a 24.6 scoring average to go with her usual rebounds, assists and steals.
They add size with 6-4 sophomore Allison O’Grady and added shooting with 6-foot senior guard Kate Martin. They overcome turnovers with balanced outside shooting. Their lineup has five seniors, two juniors, four sophomores and three freshmen.
The Friday opener has No. 1 Virginia Tech (31-4) against No. 3 Louisiana State (32-2).
The Hokies have won 15 straight, with their last loss on Jan. 26 against Duke. The big at center is 6-6 senior Elizabeth Kitley and her 18.2 scoring average to go with 10.6 blocks. She tallied 25 in the Elite Eight win over Ohio State.
The guard play is handled by 5-8 Australian junior Georga Amoore She is always in control of the transition offense, has a good outside shot, penetrates, has a 16.3 norm, and can dish out assists. There’s also 6-foot senior wing Cayla King who plays aggressive defense.
Virginia Tech’s lineup lists eight seniors, two juniors, and two freshmen.
LSU won its first 25 starts. It has lost to South Carolina and Tennessee. It’s averaging 81.8 points per game, and depends on transfers La Daz Nia Williams, a 6-4 senior forward, 6-3 sophomore center Angel Reese, and 5-6 senior guard Alexis Morris who scored 21 in the Elite Eight triumph over Miami.
The Bayou Tigers go with four seniors, five sophomores, a junior and two freshmen.
