GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Georgia Coach Joni Taylor wasn't sure what to think as Mikayla Coombs was down beneath the basket in pain, trainers focused on her lower right leg.
"It scared me to death," said Taylor, who then watched as Coombs was helped off the floor in the second quarter without putting any weight on the injury.
Yet the UConn transfer returned for the second half, scoring 12 of her season-high 14 points and leading the No. 16 Bulldogs into the SEC Tournament semifinals for the first time in 17 years with an upset of top-seeded and No. 2 Texas A&M 74-68 on Saturday.
Maya Caldwell had 19 points and Jenna Staiti had 13 points, 12 rebounds and 6 blocks as the Bulldogs (20-5) denied the SEC regular-season champion Aggies (23-2) a chance to sweep the league titles.
Coombs, who sat out last season, hit the bucket that put Georgia up to stay at 51-50 to start the final period.
She added a driving layup moments later. And when Coombs flashed by the defense for another inside shot, Georgia was up 59-53 and would not be caught.
Caldwell said Coombs has supreme speed and often puts on a show at practice.
"It's who she is," she said.
Coombs has come off the bench in her first season with the Bulldogs, scoring 10 or more points just three times before Texas A&M.
"When Mikayla's aggressive, she's really hard to stop," Taylor said.
The Aggies found that out and now get a little bit longer break before finding out their spot in NCAA Tournament, where they're projected as a No. 1 seed.
"It doesn't matter if you're a 1 or a 2," Texas A&M Coach Gary Blair said. "As long as you're playing in the state of Texas, that's home to us. But we saw some mistakes today that we've got to clean up."
Georgia, which beat No. 17 Kentucky in Friday's quarterfinals, will play No. 7 South Carolina in today's championship game.
"We know we still have unfinished business," Caldwell said.
NO. 7 SOUTH CAROLINA 67,
NO. 14 TENNESSEE 52
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Zia Cooke scored 17 points, and Aliyah Boston had 15 points and 11 rebounds as No. 7 South Carolina rolled past No. 14 Tennessee and into the SEC Tournament title game for the sixth time in seven years.
The defending champion Gamecocks (21-4) will seek their sixth tournament crown since 2015 tonight.
This semi was never close once South Carolina took off on a 19-2 burst to close first quarter for a 29-13 lead.
Unlike the first meeting between these teams -- Tennessee rallied from 16 down to hand South Carolina its first SEC loss in two seasons -- the Gamecocks kept the pressure up throughout.
Tennessee (16-7) was trying for its first finals appearance since 2015.
Jordan Walker and Jordan Horston had 11 points each to lead the Lady Vols.
WOMEN’S TOP 25
NO. 1 UCONN 77,
ST. JOHN'S 41
UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Freshman Paige Bueckers scored 17 points and top-ranked UConn opened its postseason with a 77-41 victory over St. John's in the Big East quarterfinals.
Christyn Williams (Central Arkansas Christian) added 14 points for the Huskies (22-1). UConn has won 158 consecutive games against conference opponents since losing to Notre Dame in the 2013 Big East title game.
UConn will face Villanova today.
Leilani Correa and Unique Drake each had seven points for St. John's (8-15).
NO. 3 N.C. STATE 66,
GEORGIA TECH 61
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Elissa Cunane had 23 points and nine rebounds and North Carolina State overcome a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament semifinals.
Kayla Jones added 12 points and eight rebounds for the defending champion Wolfpack (19-2). They will face No. 5 Louisville on today.
Lorela Cubaj and Lotta-Maj Lahtinen each had 17 points for Georgia Tech (15-8).
NO. 5 LOUISVILLE 72,
SYRACUSE 59
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Dana Evans scored 13 points, Olivia Cochran added 10 points and 10 rebounds and Louisville beat Syracuse to advance to the ACC Tournament championship game.
Kianna Smith added 11 points for Louisville (23-2).
Emily Engstler had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Syracuse (14-8).
NO. 6 BAYLOR 93, KANSAS 67
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Nalyssa Smith had 21 points and 12 rebounds, Dijonai Carrington added 20 points and Baylor beat Kansas.
The Lady Bears (21-2, 16-1 Big 12) have already clinched their 11th consecutive regular-season title -- the fifth-longest streak in NCAA women's Division I history. Baylor has won 13 consecutive games, and 14 in a row against the Jayhawks, dating to 2014.
Holly Kersgieter scored 16 points for Kansas (7-17, 3-15). The Jayhawks have lost 12 of their last 13 games.
NO. 8 MARYLAND 88,
PENN STATE 61
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Chloe Bibby had 15 points and nine rebounds and Maryland beat Penn State to wrap up the Big Ten regular-season championship.
Diamond Miller had 14 points for the Terrapins (21-2, 17-1).
Niya Beverley scored 15 points for the Nittany Lions (9-14, 6-13).
NO. 10 INDIANA 74,
PURDUE 59
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Mackenzie Jones scored 11 of her 26 points in the fourth quarter and Indiana beat Purdue for its school-record 18th Big Ten victory.
The Hoosiers (18-4, 16-2) set the previous mark of 15 in 1982-83.
Kayana Traylor scored 17 points for Purdue (7-15, 3-15).
NO. 12 MICHIGAN 63,
NORTHWESTERN 58
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Naz Hillmon had 19 points and 13 rebounds, Akienreh Johnson also scored 19 points and Michigan beat Northwestern.
Amy Dilk added 12 points for Michigan (14-4, 9-4 Big Ten).
Veronica Burton led Northwestern (13-7, 11-7) with 19 points.
OMAHA 52,
NO. 21 S.D. STATE 40
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Josie Filer had 19 points and 12 rebounds and Omaha beat South Dakota State to become the first No. 8 seed to defeat a top seed in the Summit League Tournament.
The Mavericks (6-12) ended the Jackrabbits' 18-game winning streak.
Tylee Irvin and Paiton Burckhard scored 10 points each for South Dakota State (21-3).
VILLANOVA 78,
NO. 25 DEPAUL 72, OT
UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Madison Siegrist scored 10 of her 30 points in overtime Villanova beat DePaul to reach the Big East Tournament semifinals.
Brianna Herlihy added 19 points for Villanova (15-5).
Deja Church had 19 points for DePaul (14-8).
SOUTHLAND WOMEN
NORTHWESTERN STATE 50,
CENTRAL ARK. 45
Northwestern (La.) State held the University of Central Arkansas to six points in the fourth quarter to claim its first victory of the season Saturday afternoon at Prather Coliseum in Natchitoches, La.
UCA (11-13, 9-7 Southland) saw its three-game win streak snapped after entering the final quarter with a 39-35 advantage. Kalen Green scored five of her team-high 12 points for Northwestern State (1-19, 1-14) in the final 1:37.
Lucy Ibeh led UCA with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Teammate Briana Trigg scored 12 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to go along with 3 assists.
Tournament glance
SATURDAY’S SEMIFINALS
Georgia 74, Texas A&M 68
South Carolina 67, Tennessee 52
TODAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP
All times Central
Georgia vs. South Carolina, 1 p.m.