The South Carolina women’s basketball team defeated South Florida 76-45 in a second-round NCAA tournament game on Sunday. With the win, the Gamecocks advance to the Sweet 16, which will be held in Greenville, South Carolina.South Florida challenged the Gamecocks early. They were up 4 a few minutes into the first quarter, but then South Carolina went on a 6-0 run. Kierra Fletcher made a layup to tie the game at 10. A few minutes later, Kamilla Cardoso made another layup to put South Carolina up 12-10. But South Florida responded with a 6-0 run to end the first quarter. The Bulls led 16-12 at the end of the first.In the second quarter, the game stayed close. Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu made a big three-pointer to put the Bulls up 18-14 but South Carolina tied the game up with 6:53 left in the quarter. Bree Hall made a layup after contact to tie the game at 18 and after the three-point play, the Gamecocks led 19-18. Aliyah Boston made some big buckets for South Carolina in the second quarter. Boston put South Carolina up 25-22 with less than 4 minutes before halftime. She also made another clutch shot with less than 2 minutes to play in the half, which increased South Carolina’s lead to 31-24.The Gamecocks led 33-29 at halftime.South Carolina senior Zia Cooke started heating up in the third quarter. She made a jumper with 7:57 left in the quarter to put South Carolina up 4 and then made another basket with 6:48 to go that extended the Gamecocks’ lead to 8. Cooke hustled for an offensive rebound with less than 5 to play in the quarter and then made a put-back after getting fouled to extend South Carolina’s lead. The foul was ruled an intentional foul, so Cooke also had 2 free throw attempts after her bucket and made one of them to put the Gamecocks up 13. The Gamecocks outscored the Bulls 19-7 in the third quarter. That was the difference maker.Cooke finished with a team-high 21 points.South Carolina will play in its Sweet 16 matchup on March 25.
The South Carolina women’s basketball team defeated South Florida 76-45 in a second-round NCAA tournament game on Sunday. With the win, the Gamecocks advance to the Sweet 16, which will be held in Greenville, South Carolina.
South Florida challenged the Gamecocks early. They were up 4 a few minutes into the first quarter, but then South Carolina went on a 6-0 run. Kierra Fletcher made a layup to tie the game at 10. A few minutes later, Kamilla Cardoso made another layup to put South Carolina up 12-10. But South Florida responded with a 6-0 run to end the first quarter. The Bulls led 16-12 at the end of the first.
In the second quarter, the game stayed close. Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu made a big three-pointer to put the Bulls up 18-14 but South Carolina tied the game up with 6:53 left in the quarter. Bree Hall made a layup after contact to tie the game at 18 and after the three-point play, the Gamecocks led 19-18. Aliyah Boston made some big buckets for South Carolina in the second quarter. Boston put South Carolina up 25-22 with less than 4 minutes before halftime. She also made another clutch shot with less than 2 minutes to play in the half, which increased South Carolina’s lead to 31-24.
The Gamecocks led 33-29 at halftime.
South Carolina senior Zia Cooke started heating up in the third quarter. She made a jumper with 7:57 left in the quarter to put South Carolina up 4 and then made another basket with 6:48 to go that extended the Gamecocks’ lead to 8. Cooke hustled for an offensive rebound with less than 5 to play in the quarter and then made a put-back after getting fouled to extend South Carolina’s lead. The foul was ruled an intentional foul, so Cooke also had 2 free throw attempts after her bucket and made one of them to put the Gamecocks up 13. The Gamecocks outscored the Bulls 19-7 in the third quarter. That was the difference maker.
Cooke finished with a team-high 21 points.
South Carolina will play in its Sweet 16 matchup on March 25.
