SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – Brianna Butler scored 10 of her 18 points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:01 left, and Syracuse upset No. 1 seed South Carolina 80-72 in the Sioux Falls Regional semifinal of the women’s NCAA Tournament Friday night.
Syracuse trailed by as many as 13 late in the first half and was still down 11 in the middle of the third quarter before coming back to stun a Gamecocks team that looked destined to make another appearance in the Final Four.
Instead, the fourth-seeded Orange (28-7) head to a regional final for the first time after winning for the 14th time in 15 games. Syracuse plays Tennessee or Ohio State on Sunday in the regional final.
Alexis Peterson scored 25 points to lead the Orange, Brittney Sykes added 17 and Briana Day had 13 rebounds.
Alaina Coates had 18 points and 16 rebounds for South Carolina (33-2).
