Alabama won that game, and went on to face another higher seed in Texas Tech, the defending national champions.

Alabama's All-American guard Niesa Johnson cut her hand on a locker room sink, which required seven stitches.

The Alabama team fought back from an eleven-point deficit and cut the margin to two points with seconds to play.

After a made free throw, they had one more chance with a three-point attempt but it failed, and La Tech moved on to the championship game.

However, the Tar Heels switched to a zone defense after made baskets, and retook the lead, ending up with an 89–74 victory, and the first North Carolina team to make it to the Championship game.

[3] In addition to Charlotte Smith, North Carolina had a freshman guard Marion Jones who would later be known for world class performances in track and field.

When the game drew to a close, the La Tech team had a two-point advantage with less than a second on the clock, but North Carolina had the ball.

Her teammates mobbed her, and she realized she had hit the shot to complete one of the most dramatic finishes in NCAA Championship history.