MARCH MADNESS: SOUTH CAROLINA ADVANCES TO THIRD STRAIGHT FINAL FOUR APPEARANCE

By Thomas Schlachter and Homero De la Fuente, CNN

proceedings in the second quarter.

The reigning Naismith women’s player of the year and Naismith women’s defensive player of the year has had another standout season and put on another impressive display when it mattered most.

Boston tallied 22 points and 10 rebounds – her 82nd college double-double – in the victory to lead the Gamecocks to their third straight Final Four appearance.

With the win, South Carolina improved to 36-0 this season and extended its win streak to 42 in a row, dating back to last year’s national championship season. When asked if this South Carolina squad was the best team she’s ever coached, Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley said, “I mean, this team has been to three consecutive Final Fours. I think they separate themselves from any other team that we’ve been a part of.”

Staley will know her team needs to be at its absolute best in the Final Four to prevent Clark from stealing the show for the Hawkeyes.

Clark became the first player in NCAA Tournament history – men’s or women’s – to record a 40-point triple-double to lead Iowa to its first Final Four appearance since 1993.

Elsewhere, the Virginia Tech Hokies reached their first Final Four in program history, with an 84-74 victory over the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes.

Led by Elizabeth Kitley’s double-double and Georgia Amoore’s 24 points, the Hokies came back from a first-quarter deficit to seal victory in the Elite Eight.

“It is so huge. I can’t even speak right now, I can’t believe it,” Amoore told