COLONIAL LIFE ARENA – It started innocently enough. Chloe Kitts hit a jumper from the free throw line. By the time the run was over ten minutes later, South Carolina was booking travel plans for the Sweet Sixteen in Albany, New York.
The Gamecocks used a 40-5 blistering in the first half to rout No. 8 seeded North Carolina 88-41 in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament. Next stop is a date on Friday against the winner of Monday’s contest between No. 4 seeded Indiana and No. 5 Oklahoma. Tip time will be announced later.
This is the 10th straight season South Carolina has advanced to the Sweet Sixteen (minus the canceled tournament in 2020) and the 11th time under Dawn Staley.
This was a rematch from November 30 in Chapel Hill when South Carolina rallied from a first half deficit to win 65-58. This one was over before the teams headed to the locker room at the half. In a season full of highlights for the undefeated and top-ranked Gamecocks (34-0), those opening 20 minutes might have been the most impressive of the season.
Seven players scored eight or more points. MiLaysia Fulwiley, fresh off being named the MVP at the SEC Tournament, continued her strong play. The freshman led the way with 20 points to go along with nine rebounds, three steals, three blocks and an assist.
Fulwiley, who has averaged 18.5 points over her last four games, played a season-low three minutes in that first game against North Carolina. It was her defensive presence and the sharp shooting of the Gamecocks that made this one over by the half.
The South Carolina bench outscored the Tar Heel reserves 51-0. Kitts and Tessa Johnson also came off the bench to score 12 and 11 points respectively. Sania Feagin chipped in with eight points and six rebounds. Kamilla Cardoso returned from her one-game suspension to post a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Ashlyn Watkins added 11 points and Te-Hina Paopao added eight points.
The stretch in the first half started when Kitts made a jumper with 3:15 remaining in the first quarter to give South Carolina a 15-8 lead. Johnson then drilled back-to-back three-pointers before Fulwiley rattled another long-range bomb in. By the time the first quarter ended, the Gamecocks were firmly in control with a 28-8 lead thanks to that 15-0 spurt in a little over three minutes.
Things didn’t slow down in the second quarter. South Carolina stretched the run to 30-2 to take a 43-10 lead. By the time the Tar Heels slightly recovered, it was too late. It was 56-19 after the first twenty minutes.
North Carolina (20-13) scored a season-low 41 points and shot 23.8 percent from the field. They finished with 18 turnovers with 13 of those coming on steals from South Carolina. The Gamecocks also won the rebounding battle 54-33 after losing that in the first time the two teams met.
Led by four three-pointers from Fulwiley and three from Johnson, South Carolina was 9-of-20 from long range but a blistering 8-of-10 in the first half.
Final Stats
