LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jordan Lee scored 19 points and Rory Harmon hit a 10-foot floater on her second backhand to lift No. 4 Texas over No. 2 South Carolina 66-64 on Thursday in the women's Players Era Championship title game.
The Gamecocks had Harmon in check, scoring just four points until she drove to the left side of the key and stopped for the game-winning shot.
Harmon also had nine assists to become the program's career leader. She was chosen as the MVP of the tournament.
“When it's time for the last shot, it's always going to be her,” said Texas coach Vic Schaefer, who called Harmon the best point guard in the country after Wednesday's semifinal win over No. 3 UCLA.
After blowing a six-point lead early in the third quarter and ultimately trailing by eight, the Longhorns (7-0) stormed back to outscore South Carolina 24-14 the rest of the way.
Madison Booker finished with 16 points and nine rebounds for Texas. Judge Carlton had 13 points and eight boards.
Four players scored in double figures for South Carolina (7-1), led by Ta'Niya Latson and Joyce Edwards with 16 points each. Tessa Johnson added 13 and Madina Okoth had her sixth double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out.
It was South Carolina's first loss since losing to Connecticut in the NCAA championship game in April.
After defeating pesky UCLA and Duke in the semifinals, respectively, Texas and South Carolina gave fans an entertaining glimpse of what they can expect when Southeastern Conference play begins in January.
The teams split their regular-season meets last season before the Gamecocks dominated Texas in both the SEC Tournament final and the Final Four.
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