March NCAA Madness 2022: Vilanova Reaches 7th Final Four, defeats Houston 50-44 in the South

SAN ANTONIA – Jermaine Samuels scored 16 points and 10 rebounds when Vilanova reached her third final of four NCAAs in the last six NCAA tournaments, beating Houston 50-44 in Saturday’s final in the southern region.

Caleb Daniels added 14 points to the Wildcats (30-7), and the only goal from Colin Gillespie’s game, who scored a fifth-year senior, was a late hit from the clutch.

Because both teams wanted to limit possession, first place in this year’s Final Four in New Orleans was decided in a game that was ugly to watch with all the missed shots.

Vilanova scored from the field 28.8% (15 of 52). The Cougars were only slightly better – 29.8% (17 out of 57), missing the last five shots and 10 out of 11 overall, and they made just one of 20 three-pointers.

Taiz Moore scored 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Cougars (32-6), who were denied a place in the Final Four for the first time since 1982-84 during the era of Phil Straw Jama.

The starting five has been completely changed from last season, including Moore and two other senior newcomers.