PHOTOS: Gamecock women’s basketball falls in third consecutive Final Four appearance

The University of South Carolina Gamecocks and the University of Iowa Hawkeyes competed in one of the two semifinal games at the 2023 Women’s Final Four matchup at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on March 31, 2023. The Gamecocks fought hard to continue its 42-game winning streak but ultimately fell to the Hawkeyes, led by junior guard Caitlin Clark, who scored 41 points.

The American Airlines Center jumbotron displays the matchup between the University of South Carolina Gamecocks and the University of Iowa Hawkeyes on March 31, 2023. The matchup brought a record number of viewers, with 5.5 million people tuning in to ESPN on average and 6.6 million views at its peak.

The Gamecock women’s basketball team storms the court with the South Carolina cheerleading squad for its Final Four match against the University of Iowa on March 31, 2023. At the start of the game, the Gamecocks were 36-0 with a 42-game winning streak.

Senior forward Victaria Saxton wins the tip-off against the University of Iowa at the start of the Final Four match on March 31, 2023. Senior guard Zia Cooke, senior forward Aliyah Boston, senior guard Brea Beal, graduate student guard Kierra Fletcher and Saxton made up the starting five for the Gamecocks.

Boston, Beal, redshirt freshman guard Raven Johnson, junior center Kamilla Cardoso and Cooke reset after a timeout at the Final Four match against the University of Iowa on March 31, 2023. The Hawkeyes led 22-13 by the end of the first quarter.

Gamecock fans traveled far and wide to cheer on and support their team at the Women’s Final Four match on March 31, 2023, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The crowd cheered throughout the game in hopes of motivating the team.

Cooke steps back and attempts a 3-pointer to decrease the score deficit in the Final Four match against the University of Iowa on March 31, 2023. Cooke led her team, making 18 points and five assists in the first half of the game, and was named the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year.

Beal prepares to defend Clark at the start of the second half of the Final Four match on March 31, 2023. Beal had significant playing time and defensive work against Clark, who scored for 19 of Iowa’s 38 points in the first half, three of which were 3-pointers.

Clark shoots a 3-pointer on graduate student guard Kierra Fletcher. Clark, the 2023 Naismith Player of the Year, ended the night with 41 points. In her 39 minutes of playtime, she attempted 17 3-pointers and made five.

Head coach Dawn Staley and the rest of the Gamecock women’s basketball team rises as Johnson hits her first 3-pointer of the night against the University of Iowa at the Final Four match on March 31, 2023. Iowa led 59-55 at the end of the third quarter.

The South Carolina fan section expresses distress with Iowa being up by 4 points with 35 seconds left in the fourth quarter of the Final Four matchup on March 31, 2023. The Gamecocks managed to get the game within 2 points with 10 seconds left, but the Hawkeyes would secure the win with the help of Clark’s free throws.

Boston waves goodbye to the Gamecock crowd as she exits the court at the Final Four matchup between the University of South Carolina and the University of Iowa on March 31, 2023. Boston, who had an additional year to play due to the COVID-19 pandemic, would declare for the WNBA draft the next day.

Boston and Johnson share their post-game thoughts about the Women’s Final Four match on March 31, 2023. The Gamecocks lost to the Hawkeyes 77-73, ending its historic 42-game winning streak.