COLUMBIA – Kamilla Cardoso couldn’t maintain off the tears forward of tipoff Sunday.
Two hours later, after South Carolina ladies’s basketball routed North Carolina 88-41 to advance to its tenth straight Candy 16, the senior middle nonetheless wore the emotion on her face.
Cardoso, who has a yr of eligibility remaining and is projected to be chosen within the high 5 of the WNBA Draft, stated she’s nonetheless undecided as to her subsequent transfer. However in her return from a one-game suspension, in what could also be have been her final recreation at Colonial Life Enviornment, she helped the No. 1 Gamecocks (34-0) ship off the followers in model.
“I don’t know if that is going to be my final recreation at house or not,” Cardoso stated. “Simply fascinated by it, it may very well be my final recreation and I used to be just a little emotional.”
Coach Daybreak Staley stated Cardoso struggled along with her suspension, saying she felt like she let South Carolina down and was embarrassed to not be taking part in.
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It was the house crowd’s cheering that helped convey her again to basketball.
“Regardless of how exhausting we tried to shake her out of it, solely basketball, solely getting again on the market and operating up and down and listening to the ovation from the gang (might),” Staley stated. “It even acquired her just a little emotional at the start of the sport. She’s a kind-hearted individual and it was a lot in contrast to her.”
The Gamecocks felt they’d one thing to show towards the No. 8-seeded Tar Heels (20-13) after needing an 11-point comeback to beat them on Nov. 30 in Chapel Hill. This time, South Carolina used a 30-2 run within the first half to go away issues in little doubt.
“All of us knew the way it felt throughout that recreation and we didn’t need to really feel it once more,” South Carolina senior guard Te-Hina Paopao stated. “We had been shocked by their physicality and aggressiveness. We got here out swinging first and I’m actually pleased with our staff for doing that.”
Being ready for North Carolina’s physicality was the theme inside the Gamecocks’ locker room. Cardoso stated her improved efficiency was on account of being prepared for the Tar Heels’ toughness. She had 12 factors and 10 rebounds after scoring solely six factors in November.
“In the present day we went into this recreation realizing it was going to be bodily,” Cardoso stated. “We simply tried to remain inside us and play South Carolina basketball. Don’t decrease our requirements.”
It was the 59th-straight house victory for South Carolina, extending a dominant streak courting again to Dec. 3, 2020. The FAMs, as Staley calls the house crowd, have been an integral a part of that success.
The gang helped elevate South Carolina early, lighting up after freshman guard Tessa Johnson hit back-to again 3-pointers and freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley went behind-the-back on a go to Paopao.
Johnson and Fulwiley starred within the first half as South Carolina jumped out to a 56-19 lead at halftime. Fulwiley completed with 20 factors to guide the Gamecocks, whereas Johnson added 11.
The Gamecocks’ freshmen have rapidly settled into postseason tempo of play. Fulwiley has scored 37 factors in two video games, whereas Johnson bounced again from a scoreless outing Friday with a trio of first-half 3-pointers.
“Earlier than a recreation we’re at all times like, we’re freshies, we’ve acquired this,” Johnson stated. “Her having my again and me having her again, it’s an excellent feeling. Her succeeding – I would like her to succeed.”
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South Carolina strikes onto the Candy 16, the place it’ll face the winner of Monday’s recreation between No. 4 Indiana (25-5) and No. 5 Oklahoma (23-9) on Friday within the Albany 1 Regional.
“We would have liked a efficiency like this,” Staley stated. “Hopefully taking part in this good of basketball might be contagious all through the remainder of the best way.”
Evan Gerike covers South Carolina ladies’s basketball for the Greenville Information. E-mail him at egerike@citizentimes.com or observe him on Twitter @EvanGerike.