Game marred by fight and ejections
GREENVILLE, S.C.>> It was a Southeastern Conference Tournament celebration like no other in South Carolina’s history: Six subdued players in white championship hats stood on the podium while the rest of their teammates remained in the locker room.
“It was heartbreaking,” guard Te-hina Paopao said after the Gamecocks’ 79-72 victory over No. 8 LSU was marred by a fourth-quarter fight that led to South Carolina leading scorer and rebounder Kamilla Cardoso being ejected.
Milaysia Fulwiley, a freshman named the tournament’s MVP, scored a career-high 24 points as South Carolina won its eighth tournament crown in the past 10 seasons.
“We couldn’t have done it without them,” Paopao said of missing Cardoso, Chloe Kitts, Tessa Johnson and Sakima Walker from the typically joyous postgame ceremony. “It was very hard for us, just a lot of emotions.
We really wanted them to celebrate with us.”
Kitts, Johnson and Walker were ejected for leaving the bench during the incident, which was sparked with just over two minutes left when the 6-foot-7 Cardoso shoved 5-10 Flau’jae Johnson of LSU after an intentional foul.
South Carolina (32-0) was ahead 73-66 when Fulwiley stole the ball from Johnson, who wrapped her up and was called for a foul. Johnson then bumped South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins, and the 6-foot-7 Cardoso rushed over and pushed the 5-10 Johnson to the ground. Players from both benches rushed toward them.
Cardoso and three of her teammates were ejected. Two LSU players — Aalyah Del Rosario and Janae Kent — who logged minutes in the game and came off the bench were also sent off. South Carolina was left with six players and the Tigers five.
Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said Johnson came up to her after the game to apologize, telling Staley, “I’m not that type of player.”
Staley apologized on behalf of her program to the remaining South Carolina fans who filled the arena.
Staley’s assessment of the dustup? “What you saw were two highly competitive teams and they did not handle it well,” she said.
Cardoso, too, apologized on social media after the game. The SEC did not open locker rooms to reporters.
“My behavior was not representative of who I am as a person or the South Carolina program, and I deeply regret any discomfort or inconvenience it may have caused. I take full responsibility for my actions,” she posted.
Cardoso can be expected to miss time in the NCAA Tournament for her actions. The Gamecocks enter March Madness as the clear-cut No. 1 seed and the only undefeated team left in Division I, men or women.