South Carolina Basketball: Gamecocks knock off Tennessee in all-time thriller in SEC Tournament

South Carolina Basketball vs. Tennessee Volunteers
Stats, Scoring, and Observations

South Carolina basketball collapsed, blew a 23-point lead, and trailed by 2 with 1 second left in the game. Yet, thanks to the unlikely heroics from a Kamilla Cardoso 3-pointer, the Gamecocks remain undefeated and advance to the SEC Tournament final where they will play against the winner of Ole Miss and LSU.

Here are the stats from the game:

STATS

Tennessee

Points

Leader: Rickea Jackson with 22

Rebounds

Leader: Rickea Jackson with 9

Assists

Leader: Rickea Jackson with 8

Steals

Leader: Three players each tied with 1

Blocks

Leader: Tamari Key with 4

Team

The Lady Vols shot 41.1%/34.8%79.2% and had 12 turnovers

South Carolina

Points

Leader: Kamilla Cardoso and MiLaysia Fulwiley each with 13

Rebounds

Leader: Raven Johnson with 7

Assists

Leader: Raven Johnson with 4

Steals

Leader: Ashlyn Watkins with 2

Blocks

Leader: Kamilla Cardoso with 3

Team

The Gamecocks shot 42.9%/26.7%/66.7% and had 9 turnovers

BOX SCORE

OBSERVATIONS

• Starters: Raven Johnson-Te-Hina Paopao-Bree Hall-Chloe Kitts-Kamilla Cardoso
• The Gamecock defense came out with a suffocating effort. Tennessee didn't score for over 7 minutes to start the game.
• After 10 1st quarter turnovers on Friday, the Gamecocks had none in the 1st quarter on Saturday.
• MiLaysia Fulwiley was very aggressive early.
• A great team effort against Rickea Jackson held her back in the 1st half. She shot just 1-6 from the field but managed to get 4 assists.
• The rebounding battle was heavily-favoring USC in the 1st half. Despite a run of rebounds from the Vols to end the 2nd quarter, Carolina won the battle in the first 20 minutes 27-15, and 7 Gamecocks had multiple rebounds.
• Tessa Johnson and MiLaysia Fulwiley were really good on offense, but the Vols (successfully) went matchup-hunting with Rickea Jackson against the smaller players at times in the 2nd half.
• Te-Hina Paopao struggled in this game.
• After leading by 23 in the 2nd quarter, USC allowed UT to take the lead late in the 4th.
• Fouls were a problem for the Gamecocks. Several players dealt with some foul trouble, but more importantly, they allowed Tennessee to shoot 24 times from the free throw line.
• Kamilla Cardoso's game-winner was her first 3-point make in her career.