South Carolina finishes 2nd straight excellent common season

Kamilla Cardoso had 18 factors and 14 rebounds, Te-Hina Paopao scored 14 factors and No. 1 South Carolina accomplished its second straight excellent common season with a 76-68 victory over Tennessee on Sunday.

Cardoso and Paopao, each seniors, excelled on senior day because the Gamecocks (29-0, 16-0 SEC) received their forty seventh consecutive SEC regular-season recreation, their 57th straight at house and their sixth in a row over the Girl Vols (17-11, 10-6).

South Carolina is the primary group to enter the SEC event undefeated a number of occasions, in line with ESPN Stats & Info.

An ideal season was not talked about among the many group when the season started, Paopao mentioned, solely a mindset to win every time gamers took the ground.

“It wasn’t actually a objective,” mentioned Paopao, a switch from Oregon. “It was simply, ‘We acquired to win the subsequent recreation and the sport after that.”

Rickea Jackson had a game-high 29 factors for Tennessee.

Cardoso performed in entrance of her mom, Janete Soares, and older sister, Jessica Silva, after they arrived from Brazil. Coach Daybreak Staley facilitated their arrival, with assist from U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, by getting visas accepted. Cardoso placed on fairly a present along with her household within the crowd.

She had six factors and 6 rebounds within the first quarter. After Tennessee took a 24-23 lead, she led the way in which because the Gamecocks outscored the Girl Vols 17-8 to shut the second quarter and take a 40-32 lead into halftime.

When Tennessee minimize a 15-point deficit to 63-60 on Jackson’s jumper with 4:51 to play, it was Cardoso who prolonged the margin with consecutive inside pictures. Cardoso, who fouled out late within the fourth quarter, acquired a loud ovation within the sold-out enviornment as she went to the bench.

Cardoso completed along with her thirteenth double-double this season and twenty ninth of her profession.

Tennessee coach Kellie Harper was pleased with her group’s resolve in hanging in. The Gamecocks “simply haven’t got a variety of deficiencies,” she mentioned.

The Related Press contributed to this report.