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1986 NCAA Division I women's basketball championship game
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Women's basketball championship game
April 2024
March 2026
NCAA Division I women's basketball championship game ncg NCAA primary logo 1980 reserved.svg w 1985–86 USC Trojans University of Southern California 31–4 Linda Sharp 3 Texas Longhorns University of Texas 33–0 Jody Conradt 1 35 46 45 52 March 30, 1986 Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky Clarissa Davis, Texas 5,662 CBS Gary Bender (play-by-play) and Mimi Griffin (analyst) 1985 1987
The 1986 NCAA Division I women's basketball championship game was the final game of the 1986 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament. It determined the champion of the 1985–86 NCAA Division I women's basketball season and was contested by the USC Trojans and the Texas Longhorns. The game was played on March 30, 1986, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. After leading 45–35 at halftime, No. 1 Texas defeated No. 3 USC 97–81 to capture the NCAA national championship,Texas Is a Perfect 34-0 as Longhorns Stop Miller, Win Women's NCAA Title https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-03-31-sp-2161-story.html The Los Angeles Times March 31, 1986 April 21, 2024 and complete the first unbeaten season in women's NCAA history. Clarissa Davis was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Participants
USC Trojans
1985–86 USC Trojans women's basketball team
The Trojans, represented the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California, were led by head coach Linda Sharp in her 9th season at the school. After a disappointing season that followed back-to-back national championships, the Women of Troy began the season ranked No. 7 in the AP Poll. The team's first loss of the season was at No. 1 Texas. They lost at No. 2 Louisiana Tech a month later, and then lost their only home game to No. X Long Beach State by a single point on January 28. After peaking at No. 2 in the polls as the calendar turned over to 1986, the team finished the regular season at No. 3.
For the third time in four seasons, USC was the top seed in the West region of the NCAA tournament and defeated Montana, No. 16 North Carolina, and No. 4 Louisiana Tech to reach the third Final Four in program history. In the National semifinals, USC easily defeated No. 15 Tennessee, 83–59.USC Women Win, and It's Without a Fight https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-03-29-sp-1386-story.html The Los Angeles Times March 29, 1986 April 21, 2024 After National championships in 1983 and 1984, the 31–4 Trojans entered the matchup with No. 1 and undefeated Texas as the underdog.
Texas Longhorns
1985–86 Texas Longhorns women's basketball team
The Longhorns, who represented the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, were led by head coach Jody Conradt, in her 10th season at the school. Texas opened the season ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, a place they remained for the entirety of the season. The team earned ten wins over ranked opponents including a win over No. 4 USC on December 10.
In the NCAA tournament, Texas defeated Missouri, No 19 Oklahoma, and No. 11 Ole Miss to reach the first NCAA Final Four in program history. They won 90–65 over No. 5 Western Kentucky in the national semifinalTexas-USC: The Match They Wanted https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1986/03/30/texas-usc-the-match-they-wanted/3c82a999-2f54-4fad-8513-9b3461abfa37/ The Washington Post March 29, 1986 April 21, 2024 to reach the national championship game with a 33–0 record.
Starting lineups
USC Position Texas Cynthia Cooper G Beverly Williams Rhonda Windham G Kamie Ethridge Cherie Nelson C Annette Smith Holly Ford F Andrea Lloyd Cheryl Miller F Fran Harris Source
Game summary
#e3e3e3 March 30, 1986 No. 3 USC Trojans 81 No. 1 Texas Longhorns 97 35–45 46–52 Cooper 27 Davis 25 Rupp Arena – Lexington, Kentucky CBS
Media coverage
The game was broadcast on CBS.
References
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Championship
Category:NCAA Division I women's basketball championship games
Category:College basketball tournaments in Kentucky
NCAA Division I Women
NCAA Division I women's basketball championship game
Category:Women's sports in Kentucky
Category:USC Trojans women's basketball
Category:Texas Longhorns women's basketball