COLUMBIA – Kamilla Cardoso couldn’t maintain off the tears forward of tipoff Sunday.
Two hours later, after South Carolina ladies’s basketball routed North Carolina 88-41 to advance to its tenth straight Candy 16, the senior heart nonetheless wore the emotion on her face.
Cardoso, who has a 12 months of eligibility remaining and is projected to be chosen within the prime 5 of the WNBA Draft, mentioned she’s nonetheless undecided as to her subsequent transfer. However in her return from a one-game suspension, in what could also be have been her final recreation at Colonial Life Enviornment, she helped the No. 1 Gamecocks (34-0) ship off the followers in type.
“I don’t know if that is going to be my final recreation at house or not,” Cardoso mentioned. “Simply excited about it, it may very well be my final recreation and I used to be slightly emotional.”
Coach Daybreak Staley mentioned Cardoso struggled together with her suspension, saying she felt like she let South Carolina down and was embarrassed to not be enjoying.
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It was the house crowd’s cheering that helped deliver her again to basketball.
“Irrespective of how onerous we tried to shake her out of it, solely basketball, solely getting again on the market and operating up and down and listening to the ovation from the group (may),” Staley mentioned. “It even bought her slightly emotional initially of the sport. She’s a kind-hearted particular person and it was a lot not like her.”
The Gamecocks felt that they had one thing to show in opposition to the No. 8-seeded Tar Heels (20-13) after needing an 11-point comeback to beat them on Nov. 30 in Chapel Hill. This time, South Carolina used a 30-2 run within the first half to go away issues in little doubt.
“All of us knew the way it felt throughout that recreation and we didn’t wish to really feel it once more,” South Carolina senior guard Te-Hina Paopao mentioned. “We have been shocked by their physicality and aggressiveness. We got here out swinging first and I’m actually happy with our staff for doing that.”
Being ready for North Carolina’s physicality was the theme throughout the Gamecocks’ locker room. Cardoso mentioned her improved efficiency was on account of being prepared for the Tar Heels’ toughness. She had 12 factors and 10 rebounds after scoring solely six factors in November.
“Right this moment we went into this recreation understanding it was going to be bodily,” Cardoso mentioned. “We simply tried to remain inside us and play South Carolina basketball. Don’t decrease our requirements.”
It was the 59th-straight house victory for South Carolina, extending a dominant streak courting again to Dec. 3, 2020. The FAMs, as Staley calls the house crowd, have been an integral a part of that success.
The gang helped raise South Carolina early, lighting up after freshman guard Tessa Johnson hit back-to again 3-pointers and freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley went behind-the-back on a go to Paopao.
Johnson and Fulwiley starred within the first half as South Carolina jumped out to a 56-19 lead at halftime. Fulwiley completed with 20 factors to guide the Gamecocks, whereas Johnson added 11.
The Gamecocks’ freshmen have rapidly settled into postseason tempo of play. Fulwiley has scored 37 factors in two video games, whereas Johnson bounced again from a scoreless outing Friday with a trio of first-half 3-pointers.
“Earlier than a recreation we’re at all times like, we’re freshies, we’ve bought this,” Johnson mentioned. “Her having my again and me having her again, it’s an excellent feeling. Her succeeding – I would like her to succeed.”
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South Carolina strikes onto the Candy 16, the place it can face the winner of Monday’s recreation between No. 4 Indiana (25-5) and No. 5 Oklahoma (23-9) on Friday within the Albany 1 Regional.
“We would have liked a efficiency like this,” Staley mentioned. “Hopefully enjoying this good of basketball could be contagious all through the remainder of the best way.”
Evan Gerike covers South Carolina ladies’s basketball for the Greenville Information. E mail him at egerike@citizentimes.com or comply with him on Twitter @EvanGerike.