In South Carolina's history, the Southeastern Conference Tournament celebration was different: Six calm players in white championship hats stood on the podium while the rest of their teammates stayed in the locker room.
Guard Te-Hina Paopao expressed sadness after South Carolina's 79-72 win against No. 8 LSU was marred by a fight in the fourth quarter, leading to South Carolina's top scorer and rebounder Kamilla Cardoso getting ejected.
Freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley, named the tournament’s MVP, scored a career-high 24 points as South Carolina secured its eighth tournament crown in the past 10 seasons.
Paopao mentioned that missing Cardoso, Chloe Kitts, Tessa Johnson, and Sakima Walker from the usually joyous postgame ceremony made it very difficult for them, with a lot of emotions. They truly wanted them to celebrate with the team.
Kitts, Johnson, and Walker were ejected for leaving the bench during the incident, which started with just over two minutes remaining when the 6-foot-7 Cardoso pushed 5-10 Flau’jae Johnson of LSU after an intentional foul.
Paopao mentioned that the entire group celebrated privately.
She stated, “We’re a team. We’re going to bounce back from that and learn from our mistakes.”
At 73-66, Fulwiley stole the ball from Johnson, who then fouled her. Johnson then collided with South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins, and Cardoso, at 6-foot-7, rushed over and pushed the 5-10 Johnson to the ground. Players from both teams rushed toward them.
Coach Dawn Staley shared that Johnson apologized to her after the game, saying, “I’m not that type of player.”
Staley also apologized on behalf of her program to the remaining South Carolina fans in the arena throughout the weekend.
Staley's take on the incident?
“You saw two highly competitive teams not handling the situation well,” she said.
Staley mentioned that the penalties were appropriate and that she will spend the next week or so before the NCAA Tournament reminding her players not to let emotions take over in intense moments.
“People see that this is now part of our game,” she added. “We have to fix it.”
Cardoso also expressed regret on social media after the game. The SEC did not allow reporters into the locker rooms.
She posted, “My behavior was not representative of who I am as a person or the South Carolina program, and I deeply regret any discomfort or inconvenience it may have caused. I take full responsibility for my actions.”
Cardoso and three teammates were ejected. Two LSU players — Aalyah Del Rosario and Janae Kent — who played in the game and came off the bench were also sent off. South Carolina had six players remaining and the Tigers had five.
Cardoso is likely to miss games in the NCAA Tournament due to her actions. South Carolina, the clear-cut No. 1 seed and the only unbeaten team in Division I, men or women, now heads into March Madness after defeating the defending national champion Tigers and SEC player of the year Angel Reese.
South Carolina has won the tournament 8 times in the last 10 seasons and has beaten LSU 16 times in a row, including all 4 games since Kim Mulkey became the coach 3 seasons ago.
Fulwiley, a fast and impressive freshman, had a great performance in her first SEC Tournament and was named the most valuable player. She made two 3-pointers as South Carolina went on a 24-11 run between the first and second quarters to take the lead for good.
Even though LSU reduced a 13-point disadvantage to 67-66 with Johnson’s free throws with 4:36 remaining, Raven Johnson then made a basket and Bree Hall scored two more buckets to increase the lead.
Aneesah Morrow scored 19 points for LSU. Reese got 15 points and 13 rebounds, her third double-double in a row in the tournament.
Reese, who has lost to South Carolina 4 times, including when she was a sophomore at Maryland, thinks that the defending national champion Tigers are ready for another strong run in March Madness.
Reese said, “We’re not afraid of South Carolina. Anyone who faces us should be afraid. We are in a good position right now.”
Mikayla Williams, the SEC freshman of the year, played for the first time since hurting her foot 4 games ago. She scored two points in 8 minutes.
The Tigers were missing Last-Tear Poa, the junior guard who had taken Williams’ starting position while the first-year player rested her foot. Poa suffered a concussion during LSU’s semifinal win over Mississippi on Saturday night when her head hit the floor. She had to be carried off the court and was taken to a hospital and released later that night.
BIG PICTURE
LSU: The Tigers must be tired of always coming in second to South Carolina. They’ve finished behind them in the standings in each of Mulkey’s three seasons and have now lost the SEC Tournament to the Gamecocks. Maybe they’ll have another chance to play against them in the NCAA Tournament.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks continue to do well despite not knowing what they don’t know, as coach Dawn Staley says. They are very confident and are expected to show that in the NCAA Tournament.
