University of South Carolina coach Dawn Staley had a message for her team, on its heels in the 3rd quarter and struggling to blunt another major Arkansas comeback at the SEC Tournament.
"I didn't flinch and neither should you," Staley said during a timeout after the 25th-ranked Razorbacks cut No. 1 South Carolina's 19-point lead to 55-48.
Destanni Henderson, Aliyah Boston and the Gamecocks did not give in, rolling to its 25th consecutive win 90-64 over Arkansas on Saturday night to reach the SEC championship for the 5th time in 6 seasons.
Henderson had a career-high 21 points, hitting 4 3-pointers off the bench, and Boston got 13 points and 13 rebounds for her 2nd straight tournament double-double.
The two also combined for all 12 points in a 12-0 to close the 3rd period and restore South Carolina's large lead.
"I just had to come out and match their energy," said Henderson, who's previous career best was 19 points in a win last year over Arkansas. "I had to stay ready, stay focused."
That focus has South Carolina bidding for its 5th tournament title since 2015. It had won an SEC record 4 in a row before losing in the quarterfinals to Arkansas in 2019.
"We wanted back and we're here," Staley said. "No need to let up now."
The Gamecocks will take 9th ranked Mississippi State in Sunday's finale. The Lady Bulldogs defeated Kentucky 77-59. 
Arkansas (24-8) had rallied from 17-points down on Friday to eliminate No. 15 Texas A&M in the quarterfinals, 67-66. This time, the Razorbacks' could not finish and lost their 3rd straight this season to the Gamecocks.
Razorbacks coach Mike Neighbors said he knew his team was "on fumes" during its furious third-quarter start that had the large pro-South Carolina crowd - the site is just two hours or so from the Gamecocks campus - stunned.
Neighbors said his stategy was to "ride it out and see what happens."
Zia Cooke had 14 points while Boston, another freshman starter, got her 13th double-double this season.
The Razorbacks looked like they wanted to avoid falling in a big hole when they nailed a pair of 3-pointers in the first 90 seconds.
But then South Carolina's defense kicked in and Arkansas went cold. The Razorbacks missed 11 straight field goals into the second quarter as the Gamecocks opened a 20-10 lead.
The 29 points tied for the 3rd fewest the Razorbacks, who average better than 84 points a game lead the SEC, have scored the first 20 minutes.
Amber Ramirez had 18 points off six 3-pointers to lead the Razorbacks.