South Carolina Basketball: Gamecocks back in Final Four after beating Beavers

South Carolina Basketball vs. Oregon State Beavers
Stats, Scoring, and Observations

South Carolina basketball earned their way to another Final Four by beating the Oregon State Beavers in a tough and physical game in the Elite Eight by a score of 70-58.

Here are the stats from the game:

STATS

Oregon State

Points

Leader: Raegan Beers with 16

Rebounds

Leader: Timea Gardiner with 11

Assists

Leader: Donovyn Hunter and Talia von Oelhoffen each with 5

Steals

Leader: Three players each tied with 1

Blocks

Leader: Raegan Beers with 3

Team

The Beavers shot 36.4%/32%/76.9% and had 12 turnovers

South Carolina

Points

Leader: Tessa Johnson with 15

Rebounds

Leader: Ashlyn Watkins with 14

Assists

Leader: Raven Johnson with 6

Steals

Leader: Kamilla Cardoso and Bree Hall each with 2

Blocks

Leader: Ashlyn Watkins with 4

Team

The Gamecocks shot 33.3%/20%/77.8% and had 6 turnovers

BOX SCORE

OBSERVATIONS

• Starters: Raven Johnson-Te-Hina Paopao-Bree Hall-Chloe Kitts-Kamilla Cardoso
• Kitts started over Ashlyn Watkins in this one after Watkins started the previous games in the NCAA Tournament. The adjustment worked as Watkins was much better off the bench.
• The Gamecocks had a clear game plan to attack Raegan Beers inside to try to get her into foul trouble. It paid off as both Beers and Timea Gardiner picked up 2 fouls in the first 13 minutes of the game. Beers and Gardiner were whistled for their third fouls before the 1st half ended.
• Both teams shot poorly in the early goings. Turnovers were the difference, but Oregon State's advantage shooting from outside (6 3-pointers compared to just 2) kept them in the game.
• Raven Johnson picked up 2 fouls in the first 11 minutes. With her out of the game, Oregon State started to make 3-pointers as the perimeter defense struggled without her.
• Kamilla Cardoso only played 10 minutes in the 1st half and not at all down the stretch. No reason was given why as she was not injured, only had 1 foul, and was playing well.
• Carolina shot only 7-17 on layups in the 1st half. Cardoso's time on the bench was a big part of why that was the case.
• Two soft whistles against Cardoso evened her and Beers in the early minutes of the 2nd half with 3 fouls each.
• Te-Hina Paopao really struggled on offense. She was 1-8 and had 0 assists through her first 20 minutes on the floor.
• The officiating favored the Gamecocks a bit in the 1st half. It strongly favored Oregon State in the 3rd quarter as it felt like the refereeing crew was hoping to even the scales for the 4th.
• A group consisting of the two starting guards and three reserves went off for a 12-0 run near the end of the 3rd quarter.
• The offensive rebounding by the Gamecocks allowed them to stay ahead even with an off shooting game. They pulled down 22 offensive rebounds for the game.
• The guard defense of Raven Johnson and Tessa Johnson were the best option for the Gamecocks as USC held OSU to just 2 3-pointers in the 2nd half after making 6 in the 1st.
• Tessa Johnson's great 4th quarter iced the game.
• Ashlyn Watkins was the most impactful player of the game, Raven Johnson was essential to the defense, Kamilla Cardoso was excellent on offense, and Coach Staley pushed the right buttons with the rotation to get the job done.