COLUMBIA, S.C. — Fans across Columbia gathered on Friday to watch the University of South Carolina's Women's basketball team cruised through to the NCAA national championship game.
Gamecock fans are feeling the March Madness this weekend as South Carolina rolled through North Carolina State in their final-four matchup.
Steadman Rogers traveled to Market on Main to watch the game with hundreds of other fans. "It was just an amazing game. Dawn Staley and them had a great game day. Then just Cardoso, able to take that energy and come back and just have an amazing game," he says.
A large crowd filled the outside patio to watch the game from tip-off to the final horn. Despite only being up by one at halftime Brecken Noenig had confidence they’d pull off a huge win.
"The first half was definitely a little nerve-racking. But then when we were up by 30 I was like we got it. Then all a sudden I look and it's like four seconds left and everybody's screaming," she says.
Brooke Sweet reflected on what the means for the school community as a whole. "You never understand it when you're watching college sports until you are a college student and it's your team. It's so exciting."
Mason Lobe watched with his family and says now they have one goal in mind. He says, "It's a win, and then it's a dynasty"
Noenig says she's already planning her celebration. "To win and to all come together and run to the fountain and be together as gamecocks," she says.
The Gamecocks will play in the national championship game on Sunday afternoon at 3 P.M. The News19 team will have coverage all game long on air and online.