DALLAS _ For the first time in program history South Carolina will play for the national title.
The Gamecocks rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to top Stanford 62-53 Friday night at the American Airlines Center in a national semifinal game.
USC will face the winner of UConn and Mississippi State on Sunday for the national title.
South Carolina outscored Stanford 42-24 in the second half, including 21-8 in the third quarter.
The Gamecocks were led by Allisha Gray, who scored a game-high 18 points, including 13 in the second half.
South Carolina All-American A'Ja Wilson scored 13 points and pulled down 19 rebounds.
South Carolina opened the second half on a 19-4 run, taking a 35-33 lead on a Bianca Cuevas-Moore 3-pointer with 3:31 remaining in the third quarter.
The Gamecocks led the rest of the way with Stanford getting as close as three points twice in the fourth quarter.
