South Carolina basketball coach Dawn Staley said that her Gamecocks would lose to the Tennessee Volunteers in the SEC Tournament if they played like they did against the Texas A&M Aggies on Friday.
Thankfully for South Carolina basketball fans, they played just one degree better on Saturday.
The game was ugly for the Gamecocks as they blew a 23-point lead and allowed Tennessee to take their first lead in the final minute of the game. The Gamecocks' answer didn't fall as Raven Johnson missed a 3-pointer, leaving them down by 2 points in the waning moments of the SEC Tournament semifinals.
However, when Carolina fouled, Jewel Spear missed both free throws, and the Gamecocks were gifted one last opportunity. After a purposeful foul designed to disrupt USC, Kamilla Cardoso was the only player open on the inbound.
With just one second left in the game, Raven Johnson's inbound pass went to the Brazilian post player. She wheeled around confidently, stepped back behind the arc, and fired up a 3-point jumper, the first attempt of her career. The shot banked in off the window, and, in the most unlikely way, the South Carolina basketball star sent her team to the SEC Tournament final.
You can watch the shot below.
KAMILLA. FREAKING. CARDOSO!!! pic.twitter.com/KxV40Osnhe
— South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB) March 9, 2024
Cardoso's family was in attendance from Brazil, making the moment even more special for the USC star.
An absolutely incredible finish for the Gamecocks keeps their hopes alive for an 8th SEC Tournament title in 10 years. It also keeps the undefeated season dream alive, as well. Just 4 programs (UConn 6 times, Baylor, Tennessee, and Texas) have ever gone undefeated all the way through a season, and Dawn Staley's South Carolina Gamecocks still have their chance.
LSU and Ole Miss play next, and South Carolina will face off with the winner for the SEC Tournament championships on Sunday.