South Carolina point guard returns to bench
CLEVELAND — South Carolina women’s basketball had to finish its Final Four matchup without its starting point guard.
Raven Johnson left the game against NC State in the fourth quarter and went to the locker room with just under five minutes left in the game. She returned to the bench but did not play again. No. 1 seed South Carolina (37-0) went on to beat the No. 3 seed Wolfpack 78-59 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Friday.
The Gamecocks will face No. 1 seed Iowa, a 71-69 winner over No. 3 seed UConn, in the national championship game Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN).
When the sophomore left the court for the locker room, she mentioned her hamstring. Johnson had 13 points, five assists and two rebounds to help South Carolina build a 72-47 lead when she left the game.
Johnson is averaging 8.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists this season.
After the game, Johnson told reporters in the locker room she had a hyperextended knee.
Coach Dawn Staley addressed Johnson’s injury postgame and said she would be available for Sunday’s championship game.
“Unless she’s going to be rolling around in a wheelchair, she’s going to play, best believe that,” Staley said.
