DALLAS -- Dawn Staley is going to savor her first NCAA championship. It took her a long time to finally be able to raise the trophy over her head.

A'ja Wilson scored 23 points to help coach Staley and South Carolina win their first national championship with a 67-55 victory over Mississippi State on Sunday night.

Staley made the Final Four three times as a player at Virginia but never won. She also led the Gamecocks to the national semifinals two years ago before losing to Notre Dame.

"It means that I can check off one of the things that had been a void in my career," said Staley wearing the championship net around her neck in the postgame press conference. "Something I wanted to do. It was one of two opportunities that I saw women play when I was younger -- national championship games and Olympics. Those were things that I held dear and near to me growing up. Those were the things I saw and were shooting for."

Wilson, a native South Carolina player who was Staley's biggest recruit ever, was the key. She was thrilled to help Staley get her first title.

"I can't put into words how much it meant to win the game for coach," Wilson said. "She's put in so much time and sweat into this. ... It really means something special to bring this back home for such a great person like coach Staley."

Once the final buzzer sounded, Staley had a long group hug with her coaching staff and then grabbed the trophy and paraded it around the court high over her head. She cut down the final piece of the net, waving it to the huge throng of Gamecocks fans while Wilson and Kaela Davis danced with the South Carolina band playing.

"You have to give tribute to the former players," Staley said. "Go back to my Temple days, they believed in our vision. We took that vision to South Carolina and that vision was we'll be national champions. If you stick with us and if you're disciplined, if you believe all these players believed in that. Happy our words came true to them."

Staley became just the second African-American coach to win a national championship. She joined Carolyn Peck, who won a title at Purdue.

Mississippi State had all the momentum on its side after a shocking win over UConn on Friday night that ended the Huskies' record 111-game winning streak. The Bulldogs couldn't muster the same effort against the Gamecocks. Morgan William, who had become the face of the tournament with the game-winner against the Huskies after a 41-point performance against Baylor, was held to just 8 points.

South Carolina (33-4) turned a 10-point halftime lead into a 45-31 advantage midway through the third quarter before the Bulldogs rallied. Mississippi State (34-5) slowly cut into its deficit, getting with 54-50 on Jazzmun Holmes' jumper. That brought a huge cheer from the thousands of Mississippi State fans who made the 8-hour trip from Starkville, Mississippi.

But that's as close as the Bulldogs could get.

The victory in front of a sellout crowd came one day after the Gamecocks men's basketball team lost in the Final Four in Phoenix.

Wilson, who grew up in South Carolina, blocked a shot on one end of the court and then hit a short jumper in the lane that started a 12-2 run to put the game away. Staley emptied her bench with less than a minute left and Wilson left with tears of joy. The junior center sees a repeat in the future for the Gamecocks, who return most of their core players.

"Man, just be with us next year, we're trying to be in this same spot next year, we're going to see how it goes," Wilson said after winning the most outstanding player award for the Final Four.

The Gamecocks won the title without star center Alaina Coates, who hurt her ankle in the SEC Tournament. She didn't even travel with the team to Dallas.

"Our players never fretted, `La' we got you a ring. We got you a ring," Staley said of Coates. "Allisha Gray, Kaela Davis they all believed in it. They spent a year getting to know our team, getting to know our system. Got the opportunity to play and we become national champions. It's incredible belief and discipline and can't thank them enough for choosing South Carolina."

It was the third loss for the Bulldogs against the Gamecocks this season. Mississippi State dropped a game in South Carolina in the regular season as well as the SEC Tournament title game.

"Today doesn't define us," said Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer, who is 0-9 in his career against South Carolina. "It certainly doesn't define this team or this season. We had a heck of a year. Obviously we've had some hard times dealing with them. Today was no different."

No team had a tougher road to the championship then the second-seeded Bulldogs. They were trying to become the third team in NCAA history to beat three number No. 1 seeds en route to the title. Tennessee did it in 1987 and Louisiana Tech accomplished the same feat a year later. The Bulldogs had already knocked off top-seed Baylor and UConn to get to the championship game.

This was the sixth time in NCAA Tournament history that teams from the same conference played for the national championship, including three by the SEC. Tennessee won both of those matchups, the last coming in 1996 when the Lady Vols beat Georgia.

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Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg</s>For all of her accomplishments in her Hall of Fame playing career, there was one title that eluded Dawn Staley. For 26 years, she’s lived with the regret that she never won an NCAA title.

Staley coached the University of South Carolina their first women’s basketball national title Sunday night, 67-55 over Mississippi State, behind a 23-point, 10-rebound performance from Gamecocks junior forward A’ja Wilson.

The win was the culmination of the Gamecocks climb under Staley, who was hired in 2008. First, South Carolina became an SEC power, and two years ago, advanced to their first-ever Final Four. Staley, who won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA and was a six-time WNBA all-star, built a program attractive enough to land top recruits, like Wilson, who was the top player in the 2014 class, and top transfers, like guard Kaela Davis, who came to Columbia from Georgia Tech for the chance to compete for a national title.

Staley’s team never trailed in Sunday’s championship game at the American Airlines Center. The Gamecocks made 46% of their shots, all while not making a single three-point shot. South Carolina didn’t even attempt a three-pointer until late in the second quarter.

South Carolina’s game plan was clear. The Gamecocks were going to win this game by being aggressive in the paint. South Carolina was able to dictate the game with their up-tempo offense, and continually worked the ball around the court and under the basket to Wilson.

Wilson grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a put back shot with 1:40 remaining to essentially seal the win for South Carolina. As Mississippi State called for a timeout, Wilson stomped her feet and yelled, urging on her teammates for the game’s final stretch.

Wilson’s strong offensive night, combined with the sharp-shooting of guard Allisha Gray, who added 18 points, helped the Gamecocks build as much as a 14-point lead in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs rallied late in the third quarter and cut the lead to four points, after a steal and layup from guard Morgan William and free throws from center Teaira McCowan, but the charge was short-lived. Davis drained a jump shot at the third-quarter buzzer to take a 52-44 lead heading into the final quarter.

South Carolina’s defense, meanwhile, frustrated a Mississippi State offense that had been so prolific at times in this tournament, with three 90-point performances in March. But the Gamecocks continually pressured Bulldogs star guard Morgan William, who hit just one basket in the first half and was benched for half of the first quarter after an early turnover and foul.

The loss ends what had been an impressive tournament run for the Bulldogs, who knocked off No. 1 seed Baylor in the Elite Eight and on Friday ended Connecticut’s 111-game winning streak with a 66-64 overtime win in the Final Four.

© Gannett Co., Inc. 2017. All Rights Reserved</s>For all of her accomplishments in her Hall of Fame playing career, there was one title that eluded Dawn Staley. For 26 years, she’s lived with the regret that she never won an NCAA title.

Staley coached the University of South Carolina their first women’s basketball national title Sunday night, 67-55 over Mississippi State, behind a 23-point, 10-rebound performance from Gamecocks junior forward A’ja Wilson.

The win was the culmination of the Gamecocks climb under Staley, who was hired in 2008. First, South Carolina became an SEC power, and two years ago, advanced to their first-ever Final Four. Staley, who won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA and was a six-time WNBA all-star, built a program attractive enough to land top recruits, like Wilson, who was the top player in the 2014 class, and top transfers, like guard Kaela Davis, who came to Columbia from Georgia Tech for the chance to compete for a national title.

Staley’s team never trailed in Sunday’s championship game at the American Airlines Center. The Gamecocks made 46% of their shots, all while not making a single three-point shot. South Carolina didn’t even attempt a three-pointer until late in the second quarter.

South Carolina’s game plan was clear. The Gamecocks were going to win this game by being aggressive in the paint. South Carolina was able to dictate the game with their up-tempo offense, and continually worked the ball around the court and under the basket to Wilson.

Wilson grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a put back shot with 1:40 remaining to essentially seal the win for South Carolina. As Mississippi State called for a timeout, Wilson stomped her feet and yelled, urging on her teammates for the game’s final stretch.

Wilson’s strong offensive night, combined with the sharp-shooting of guard Allisha Gray, who added 18 points, helped the Gamecocks build as much as a 14-point lead in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs rallied late in the third quarter and cut the lead to four points, after a steal and layup from guard Morgan William and free throws from center Teaira McCowan, but the charge was short-lived. Davis drained a jump shot at the third-quarter buzzer to take a 52-44 lead heading into the final quarter.

South Carolina’s defense, meanwhile, frustrated a Mississippi State offense that had been so prolific at times in this tournament, with three 90-point performances in March. But the Gamecocks continually pressured Bulldogs star guard Morgan William, who hit just one basket in the first half and was benched for half of the first quarter after an early turnover and foul.

The loss ends what had been an impressive tournament run for the Bulldogs, who knocked off No. 1 seed Baylor in the Elite Eight and on Friday ended Connecticut’s 111-game winning streak with a 66-64 overtime win in the Final Four.

© Gannett Co., Inc. 2017. All Rights Reserved</s>South Carolina forward A'ja Wilson, left, and South Carolina guard Allisha Gray, right, walk to their locker room following a news conference at the women's Final Four college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 1, 2017, in Dallas. South Carolina will play Mississippi State on Sunday in the NCAA Championship game. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

DALLAS (AP) -- A first-time champion is set to be crowned in women's basketball with an all-Southeastern Conference NCAA title game between South Carolina and Mississippi State.

The Bulldogs will try to knock off a third consecutive No. 1 seed Sunday night, two days after ending UConn's record 111-game winning streak on Morgan William's breathtaking, buzzer-beating jumper.

Both teams are in the title game for the first time. It's Mississippi State's first trip to the Final Four and the second for the Gamecocks, who beat frequent Final Four qualifier Stanford in the semifinals.

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley made three Final Fours as a player at Virginia in the early 1990s but never won the title. Mississippi State's Vic Schaefer was on Texas A&M's staff when the Aggies won the championship six years ago.</s>For all of her accomplishments in her Hall of Fame playing career, there was one title that eluded Dawn Staley. For 26 years, she’s lived with the regret that she never won an NCAA title.

Staley coached the University of South Carolina their first women’s basketball national title Sunday night, 67-55 over Mississippi State, behind a 23-point, 10-rebound performance from Gamecocks junior forward A’ja Wilson.

The win was the culmination of the Gamecocks climb under Staley, who was hired in 2008. First, South Carolina became an SEC power, and two years ago, advanced to their first-ever Final Four. Staley, who won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA and was a six-time WNBA all-star, built a program attractive enough to land top recruits, like Wilson, who was the top player in the 2014 class, and top transfers, like guard Kaela Davis, who came to Columbia from Georgia Tech for the chance to compete for a national title.

Staley’s team never trailed in Sunday’s championship game at the American Airlines Center. The Gamecocks made 46% of their shots, all while not making a single three-point shot. South Carolina didn’t even attempt a three-pointer until late in the second quarter.

South Carolina’s game plan was clear. The Gamecocks were going to win this game by being aggressive in the paint. South Carolina was able to dictate the game with their up-tempo offense, and continually worked the ball around the court and under the basket to Wilson.

Wilson grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a put back shot with 1:40 remaining to essentially seal the win for South Carolina. As Mississippi State called for a timeout, Wilson stomped her feet and yelled, urging on her teammates for the game’s final stretch.

Wilson’s strong offensive night, combined with the sharp-shooting of guard Allisha Gray, who added 18 points, helped the Gamecocks build as much as a 14-point lead in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs rallied late in the third quarter and cut the lead to four points, after a steal and layup from guard Morgan William and free throws from center Teaira McCowan, but the charge was short-lived. Davis drained a jump shot at the third-quarter buzzer to take a 52-44 lead heading into the final quarter.

South Carolina’s defense, meanwhile, frustrated a Mississippi State offense that had been so prolific at times in this tournament, with three 90-point performances in March. But the Gamecocks continually pressured Bulldogs star guard Morgan William, who hit just one basket in the first half and was benched for half of the first quarter after an early turnover and foul.

The loss ends what had been an impressive tournament run for the Bulldogs, who knocked off No. 1 seed Baylor in the Elite Eight and on Friday ended Connecticut’s 111-game winning streak with a 66-64 overtime win in the Final Four.

© Gannett Co., Inc. 2017. All Rights Reserved</s>For all of her accomplishments in her Hall of Fame playing career, there was one title that eluded Dawn Staley. For 26 years, she’s lived with the regret that she never won an NCAA title.

Staley coached the University of South Carolina their first women’s basketball national title Sunday night, 67-55 over Mississippi State, behind a 23-point, 10-rebound performance from Gamecocks junior forward A’ja Wilson.

The win was the culmination of the Gamecocks climb under Staley, who was hired in 2008. First, South Carolina became an SEC power, and two years ago, advanced to their first-ever Final Four. Staley, who won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA and was a six-time WNBA all-star, built a program attractive enough to land top recruits, like Wilson, who was the top player in the 2014 class, and top transfers, like guard Kaela Davis, who came to Columbia from Georgia Tech for the chance to compete for a national title.

Staley’s team never trailed in Sunday’s championship game at the American Airlines Center. The Gamecocks made 46% of their shots, all while not making a single three-point shot. South Carolina didn’t even attempt a three-pointer until late in the second quarter.

South Carolina’s game plan was clear. The Gamecocks were going to win this game by being aggressive in the paint. South Carolina was able to dictate the game with their up-tempo offense, and continually worked the ball around the court and under the basket to Wilson.

Wilson grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a put back shot with 1:40 remaining to essentially seal the win for South Carolina. As Mississippi State called for a timeout, Wilson stomped her feet and yelled, urging on her teammates for the game’s final stretch.

Wilson’s strong offensive night, combined with the sharp-shooting of guard Allisha Gray, who added 18 points, helped the Gamecocks build as much as a 14-point lead in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs rallied late in the third quarter and cut the lead to four points, after a steal and layup from guard Morgan William and free throws from center Teaira McCowan, but the charge was short-lived. Davis drained a jump shot at the third-quarter buzzer to take a 52-44 lead heading into the final quarter.

South Carolina’s defense, meanwhile, frustrated a Mississippi State offense that had been so prolific at times in this tournament, with three 90-point performances in March. But the Gamecocks continually pressured Bulldogs star guard Morgan William, who hit just one basket in the first half and was benched for half of the first quarter after an early turnover and foul.

The loss ends what had been an impressive tournament run for the Bulldogs, who knocked off No. 1 seed Baylor in the Elite Eight and on Friday ended Connecticut’s 111-game winning streak with a 66-64 overtime win in the Final Four.

© Gannett Co., Inc. 2017. All Rights Reserved</s>For all of her accomplishments in her Hall of Fame playing career, there was one title that eluded Dawn Staley. For 26 years, she’s lived with the regret that she never won an NCAA title.

Staley coached the University of South Carolina their first women’s basketball national title Sunday night, 67-55 over Mississippi State, behind a 23-point, 10-rebound performance from Gamecocks junior forward A’ja Wilson.

The win was the culmination of the Gamecocks climb under Staley, who was hired in 2008. First, South Carolina became an SEC power, and two years ago, advanced to their first-ever Final Four. Staley, who won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA and was a six-time WNBA all-star, built a program attractive enough to land top recruits, like Wilson, who was the top player in the 2014 class, and top transfers, like guard Kaela Davis, who came to Columbia from Georgia Tech for the chance to compete for a national title.

Staley’s team never trailed in Sunday’s championship game at the American Airlines Center. The Gamecocks made 46% of their shots, all while not making a single three-point shot. South Carolina didn’t even attempt a three-pointer until late in the second quarter.

South Carolina’s game plan was clear. The Gamecocks were going to win this game by being aggressive in the paint. South Carolina was able to dictate the game with their up-tempo offense, and continually worked the ball around the court and under the basket to Wilson.

Wilson grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a put back shot with 1:40 remaining to essentially seal the win for South Carolina. As Mississippi State called for a timeout, Wilson stomped her feet and yelled, urging on her teammates for the game’s final stretch.

Wilson’s strong offensive night, combined with the sharp-shooting of guard Allisha Gray, who added 18 points, helped the Gamecocks build as much as a 14-point lead in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs rallied late in the third quarter and cut the lead to four points, after a steal and layup from guard Morgan William and free throws from center Teaira McCowan, but the charge was short-lived. Davis drained a jump shot at the third-quarter buzzer to take a 52-44 lead heading into the final quarter.

South Carolina’s defense, meanwhile, frustrated a Mississippi State offense that had been so prolific at times in this tournament, with three 90-point performances in March. But the Gamecocks continually pressured Bulldogs star guard Morgan William, who hit just one basket in the first half and was benched for half of the first quarter after an early turnover and foul.

The loss ends what had been an impressive tournament run for the Bulldogs, who knocked off No. 1 seed Baylor in the Elite Eight and on Friday ended Connecticut’s 111-game winning streak with a 66-64 overtime win in the Final Four.

© Gannett Co., Inc. 2017. All Rights Reserved</s>DALLAS — For all of her accomplishments in her Hall of Fame playing career, there was one title that eluded Dawn Staley. For 26 years, she’s lived with the regret that she never won an NCAA title.

Staley coached the University of South Carolina their first women’s basketball national title Sunday night, 67-55 over Mississippi State, behind a 23-point, 10-rebound performance from Gamecocks junior forward A’ja Wilson.

The win was the culmination of the Gamecocks climb under Staley, who was hired in 2008. First, South Carolina became an SEC power, and two years ago, advanced to their first-ever Final Four. Staley, who won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA and was a six-time WNBA all-star, built a program attractive enough to land top recruits, like Wilson, who was the top player in the 2014 class, and top transfers, like guard Kaela Davis, who came to Columbia from Georgia Tech for the chance to compete for a national title.

Staley’s team trailed for just the first five minutes of Sunday’s championship game at the American Airlines Center, but after recovering from a slow start, dominated for the rest of the game. The Gamecocks made 46 % of their shots, all while not making a single three-point shot. South Carolina didn’t even attempt a three-pointer until late in the second quarter.

South Carolina’s game plan was clear. The Gamecocks were going to win this game by being aggressive in the paint. South Carolina was able to dictate the game with their up-tempo offense, and continually worked the ball around the court and under the basket to Wilson.

Wilson grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a put back shot with 1:40 remaining to essentially seal the win for South Carolina. As Mississippi State called for a timeout, Wilson stomped her feet and yelled, urging on her teammates for the game’s final stretch.

Wilson’s strong offensive night, combined with the sharp-shooting of guard Allisha Gray, who added 18 points, helped the Gamecocks build as much as a 14-point lead in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs rallied late in the third quarter and cut the lead to four points, after a steal and layup from guard Morgan William and free throws from center Teaira McCowan, but the charge was short-lived. Davis drained a jump shot at the third-quarter buzzer to take a 52-44 lead heading into the final quarter.

South Carolina’s defense, meanwhile, frustrated a Mississippi State offense that had been so prolific at times in this tournament, with three 90-point performances in March. But the Gamecocks continually pressured Bulldogs star guard Morgan William, who hit just one basket in the first half and was benched for half of the first quarter after an early turnover and foul.

The loss ends what had been an impressive tournament run for the Bulldogs, who knocked off No. 1 seed Baylor in the Elite Eight and on Friday ended Connecticut’s 111-game winning streak with a 66-64 overtime win in the Final Four.</s>For all of her accomplishments in her Hall of Fame playing career, there was one title that eluded Dawn Staley. For 26 years, she’s lived with the regret that she never won an NCAA title.

Staley coached the University of South Carolina their first women’s basketball national title Sunday night, 67-55 over Mississippi State, behind a 23-point, 10-rebound performance from Gamecocks junior forward A’ja Wilson.

The win was the culmination of the Gamecocks climb under Staley, who was hired in 2008. First, South Carolina became an SEC power, and two years ago, advanced to their first-ever Final Four. Staley, who won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA and was a six-time WNBA all-star, built a program attractive enough to land top recruits, like Wilson, who was the top player in the 2014 class, and top transfers, like guard Kaela Davis, who came to Columbia from Georgia Tech for the chance to compete for a national title.

Staley’s team never trailed in Sunday’s championship game at the American Airlines Center. The Gamecocks made 46% of their shots, all while not making a single three-point shot. South Carolina didn’t even attempt a three-pointer until late in the second quarter.

South Carolina’s game plan was clear. The Gamecocks were going to win this game by being aggressive in the paint. South Carolina was able to dictate the game with their up-tempo offense, and continually worked the ball around the court and under the basket to Wilson.

Wilson grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a put back shot with 1:40 remaining to essentially seal the win for South Carolina. As Mississippi State called for a timeout, Wilson stomped her feet and yelled, urging on her teammates for the game’s final stretch.

Wilson’s strong offensive night, combined with the sharp-shooting of guard Allisha Gray, who added 18 points, helped the Gamecocks build as much as a 14-point lead in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs rallied late in the third quarter and cut the lead to four points, after a steal and layup from guard Morgan William and free throws from center Teaira McCowan, but the charge was short-lived. Davis drained a jump shot at the third-quarter buzzer to take a 52-44 lead heading into the final quarter.

South Carolina’s defense, meanwhile, frustrated a Mississippi State offense that had been so prolific at times in this tournament, with three 90-point performances in March. But the Gamecocks continually pressured Bulldogs star guard Morgan William, who hit just one basket in the first half and was benched for half of the first quarter after an early turnover and foul.

The loss ends what had been an impressive tournament run for the Bulldogs, who knocked off No. 1 seed Baylor in the Elite Eight and on Friday ended Connecticut’s 111-game winning streak with a 66-64 overtime win in the Final Four.

© Gannett Co., Inc. 2017. All Rights Reserved</s>The NCAA women’s basketball tournament started with 64 teams and now is down to two.

One game between Southeastern Conference rivals South Carolina and Mississippi State will determine this year’s champion.

A look at the matchup set for Sunday night.

No. 1 South Carolina (32-4) vs. No. 2 Mississippi State (34-4)

Why South Carolina will win: The Gamecocks have history on their side, having won their last 10 games against Mississippi State, including two contests this year. What makes South Carolina so dangerous is their ability to control the game on both ends of the court – setting the tempo on offense and running behind guards Allisha Gray and Bianca Cuevas-Moore, and aggressive shooting from A’ja Wilson and Kaela Davis. But the Gamecocks might be even better known for their smothering defense, and they have proven earlier this year that they’re the team best-equipped to shut down Mississippi State’s multiple scorers. The Gamecocks can also should take some confidence that they advanced to the final despite an off night offensively in the semifinal against Stanford from both Wilson, who more than made up for a mediocre shooting night with 19 rebounds, and Davis. If either one or both get hot offensively Sunday, that’s good news for South Carolina.

Why Mississippi State will win: If momentum counts for anything, then Mississippi State has to have an edge. The Bulldogs have taken down No. 1 seeds in their last two games, Baylor in the Elite Eight, and then UConn in the Final Four in one of the most memorable women’s basketball games ever. Mississippi State’s defense can completely disrupt an opponent’s offensive game plan, and the fact that the Bulldogs like to use so much of the shot clock while they hold possession, it makes it hard for opponents to keep up. The matchup to watch is in the paint, between the Bulldogs’ 6-foot-7 center Teaira McCown and South Carolina’s 6-5 forward Wilson. And then there’s Mississippi State’s X-Factor, guard Morgan William, who has no fear at taking the big shot in the biggest moments.

BIGGEST STAR:She’s only 5-5, but Morgan William is carry Mississippi State

READY TO WIN:Mississippi State showed up intened to shock Connecticut
South Carolina defeats fellow Southeastern Conference team Mississippi State 67–55 for the Gamecocks' first national title.