FINAL: South Carolina Defeats LSU To Win Their 8th SEC Tournament Title
South Carolina's women's basketball team will be adding to their trophy case after triumphing over the LSU Tigers in an ultra-physical SEC title game.
In a matchup between the last two national champions, the South Carolina Gamecocks came into Sunday's prizefight against the LSU Tigers looking to show improvement from their previous two outings. In a game that saw multiple scoring runs from both teams, and a late-game altercation, it was Dawn Staley's team who emerged victorious.
At the start of the game, both teams were getting the kind of shots they were looking for offensively, but it was LSU who capitalized on their early opportunities, making six of their first ten shots, while the Gamecocks only made three of their first nine shots. That would all change as MiLaysia Fulwiley would come off the bench and utilize a combination of quickness and poise on offense, and relentless pressure on LSU guard Hailey Van Lith to give her team seven offensive points and force the Tigers in more one-on-one situations. Fulwiley's play was a major catalyst behind the Gamecocks three-point advantage ten minutes into the contest.
In the second quarter, LSU star Angel Reese would be called for a flagrant one foul with 4:33 left in the period, leading to two free throws for Te-Hina Paopao, which was followed up by two more from Tessa Johnson on the ensuing offensive possession, all of which gave Carolina a seven-point advantage. Despite having momentum on their side and Reese on the bench, the Gamecocks didn't get the ball to Cardoso, and being unable to keep the Tigers off the offensive glass (9-2 advantage), LSU would cut the lead down to four points heading into the locker room.
MiLaysia Fulwiley drives to the basket against the LSU defense in the first half (10th Mar., 2024)
Ken Ruinard | The Greenville News
In the third quarter, South Carolina once again extended their lead to double digits once again, as got out in transition in the first two and a half minutes of the period, scoring nine points in that regard, and at one point building their cushion up to 13 points. Just as they did in the second quarter, however, the Tigers would make a run of their own, with Aneesah Morrow giving the Gamecock frontcourt fits on the glass and Aalyah Del Rosario drawing multiple fouls.
Then in the fourth quarter, with 2:08 left in the game and the Gamecocks only up 7, Fulwiley would steal the ball away from LSU wing Flau'jee Johnson, who turned around and committed an intentional foul on MiLaysia. After some chirping, and a forearm shove from Johnson to Watkins, Cardoso would shove Flau'jee to the shove, causing the benches to clear and multiple players to be ejected (will write more on this later). After the dust settled, South Carolina played with six players the rest of the game and strung together enough stops to secure their eighth SEC Tournament Title in program history.
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