South Carolina gave enthusiasts an unforgettable finishing towards Tennessee within the semifinals of the SEC event on Saturday.
It appeared like the Negative. 1 Gamecocks have been headed for his or her first lack of the season till 6-foot-7 heart Kamilla Cardoso banked in a buzzer-beating 3-pointer for an exhilarating 74-73 win.
The kicker: It was once the primary made 3 of her profession. The SEC Defensive Participant of the While hadn’t even tried a shot from past arc for the reason that 2020-21 season, when she performed for Syracuse. Saturday marked the senior’s 114th look since nearest.
That’s why the Negative. 5 Tennessee Vols left her extensive not hidden after they had a 73-71 manage with 1.1 seconds at the clock, however the Brazilian heart proved that each and every Gamecock is a blackmail with the ball.
The mind-blowing end despatched Tennessee head mentor Kellie Harper all the way down to the hardwood, devastated. She’d coached a commendable struggle towards the Gamecocks (31-0), aiming for her first win towards them upcoming two alternative sturdy makes an attempt this season.
“I wanted that for them so bad,” Harper said as she fought tears upcoming the loss.
The Gamecocks opened the sport on a 13-0 scoring run, and Tennessee had simply fastened an remarkable comeback from a 23-point shortage sooner than the great end.
It was once superstar senior ahead Rickea Jackson’s offensive rebound and fadeaway shot that put the Vols within the manage with 24 seconds to play games. She recorded 22 issues, 9 rebounds and 8 assists within the heroic efficiency, which was once spoiled within the ultimate moment.
Then the win, mythical South Carolina head mentor Daybreak Staley mentioned the method of drawing up the general play games and not using a timeouts. Prior to the Gamecocks inbounded the ball, she directed Cardoso to advance as much as the foul layout and go to barricade Te-Hina Paopao within the nook. However proper sooner than the ball was once in play games, she modified her intellect and directed Cardoso to execute it.
Including to the surreal nature of Cardoso’s date, her society was once gazing within the stands. Saturday marked simply their moment occasion gazing her play games in-person, because it was once their first occasion in The united states, Cardoso told reporters.
Cardoso scored a team-high 13 issues within the game-winning struggle. Nonetheless, she noticed room for growth.
“I was very happy my teammates believed in me,” Cardoso stated on ESPN’s broadcast. “I didn’t have best game I could have, off all night. I was happy I could make the shot and take them to the finals.”
Now, South Carolina is headed for the SEC championship competition on Sunday having received 32 consecutive convention video games. The Gamecocks arise to win their 8th SEC event name since 2015.
