NCAA Tournament Referees Under Fire Over South Carolina-Duke Officiating.
South Carolina advanced to its fifth straight Final Four in the women’s NCAA Tournament after taking care of business against Duke on Sunday.
The top-seeded Gamecocks escaped the second-seeded Blue Devils, 54-50, with star Chloe Kitts sinking two pressure-packed free throws with only five seconds left to seal the win.
Duke led at the start of the fourth quarter, but South Carolina went to work and wrested the lead with 7:49 left. The reigning champions didn’t relinquish it for the remainder of the game.
After the win, coach Dawn Staley expressed her gratitude to the fans who continue to root for them.
“I feel like everywhere I go, I feel the love,” said Staley in a report from The Mirror US’ Tom Blow. “It’s incredible how much people recognize a figure like myself in women’s basketball.
“It’s an honor to give it back to them. It truly is an honor. It’s a necessity, and it’s something that we have to do, but the love is felt.”
Well, not everyone is loving them right now. Many viewers of the NCAA Tournament took to X to express their disgust at the officiating, which they claimed favored South Carolina.
“The refs for this South Carolina-Duke game need to be investigated IMMEDIATELY,” said a fan.
“Nah, these refs are trying to bail South Carolina out with these phantom foul calls. Doing Duke dirty,” added another fan.
“Duke can pull this win off against South Carolina. But against them AND the refs…I’m not too sure,” wrote an X user.
“Refs making sure South Carolina WBB wins this game against Duke. 4 touch fouls to 1 in the fourth quarter,” commented a fan.
“That was weird, the refs gave South Carolina the ball while Duke was huddled at the foul line,” observed another fan. “Don’t know if they warned them or not,”
“Refs bailing South Carolina out with fouls. Got to keep that Dawn Staley media aspect alive,” said a fan.
The Gamecocks were called for 13 fouls, while the Blue Devils were whistled for 18, including seven in the fourth quarter. South Carolina shot 13-of-20 from the free throw line, while Duke went 7-of-13.
South Carolina will face either Texas or TCU in the Final Four.
Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.