South Carolina's Zia Cooke Plays Her Heart Out In Potential Final Game
South Carolina's women's basketball team came up short against the Iowa Hawkeyes, 77-73, ending their 42-game win streak in the NCAA Final Four. While Coach Staley's talented team will leave Dallas disappointed they didn't bring home a second consecutive championship, players and fans alike can remain proud of the Gamecocks' historic run and, more specifically, Zia Cooke's tremendous effort.
Heading into Friday, all the news revolved around the showdown between Naismith POTY winners Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark. However, the game didn't play out that way, as an early pair of Boston fouls sidelined her for most of the first half. She left the game down by 7, and other Gamecocks needed to step up to keep the score close.
For the first 20 minutes, Zia Cooke was the Gamecock who rose to the occasion. Clark, the NCAA's leading scorer, scored 19 in the opening two quarters, but Cooke's 18 points and five rebounds kept South Carolina in striking distance entering halftime. From the jump, Iowa seemed to have all the momentum, as it seemed like no one on South Carolina wanted the ball in their hands as things got out of hand. Cooke's speed, ball handling, and drive woke up the Gamecocks and elevated the whole team, allowing South Carolina to battle back and keep the matchup close through the end.
After halftime, Zia Cooke garnered more attention defensively, and South Carolina transitioned to their traditional crash-the-boards playstyle. Still, Cooke remained a key contributor and energy leader, finishing the game with 24 points and eight rebounds. The talent and effort she displayed were seen by basketball fans nationwide in potentially the most-watched game in women's college basketball history.
What's next for Cooke is uncertain. She has a fifth year of eligibility, but with growing WNBA attention, her talents could rise to the next level. Due to the relatively low salaries offered by the WNBA, she may choose a different career path altogether. Majoring in communications, she could become one of the sports' premier analysts. Growing up with a passion and talent for singing, she also has options in the music industry. No matter what's next for Zia Cooke, big things will be on the horizon if she approaches her craft with the intensity and heart she's shown with South Carolina over the last four years.
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