No. 1 seed Stanford holds off Texas, joins South Carolina in Final Four

Half of the women's Final Four is set.

So far, it's looking pretty chalky. No. 1 seed Stanford held off No. 2 seed Texas, 59-50 to win the Spokane region on Sunday and join No. 1 overall seed South Carolina in next week's Final Four.

The defending champion Cardinal got a fight from the Longhorns, who kept the game as close as 50-48 with 3:35 left late in the fourth quarter. But Stanford never relinquished its halftime lead as it advanced to its seventh Final Four in the last 14 seasons.

Texas had a chance to tie the game at 50, but a Audrey Warren jumper with 2:50 remaining missed the mark. Lexie Hull converted on a 3-point play on Stanford's next possession to extend the Cardinal lead back to two possessions at 53-48. The Cardinal maintained control from there.

Texas had chances down the stretch to cut deeper into Stanford's lead but missed opportunities at the free-throw line in an 11-of-20 (55%) effort for the game. Stanford, meanwhile, took advantage at the line, where it finished 18 of 22 (81.8%).

Hull led the Stanford scoring effort with 20 points. Haley Jones added 18 points, 12 rebounds and four assists.

The Cardinal advance to face Monday's winner between No. 1 seed NC State and No. 2 seed UConn. No. 1 seed Louisville and No. 3 seed Michigan will also play Monday, with the winner advancing to face South Carolina.