MINNEAPOLIS — This time there were tears of joy. South Carolina star forward Aliyah Boston made sure of it.
As confetti rained down on the Target Center floor, all that Boston had worked for and accomplished this season began to sink in. In the game’s waning seconds, she bounced in euphoria on the Gamecocks bench. And then, minutes later, after No. 1 South Carolina had defeated No. 2 UConn, 64–49, to claim this season’s national championship and second in program, the weight of the moment took hold.
“Happy tears,” Boston told ESPN’s Holly Rowe.
Eric Gay/AP
One year earlier Boston was moved to tears after missing a put-back layup at the buzzer in South Carolina’s Final Four contest against Arizona.