UNC women run into South Carolina buzz saw in second-round NCAA Tournament loss
UNC knew the task in front of it was monumental. After a win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, the North carolina women’s basketball team earned a date with top-ranked and No. 1 overall seed South Carolina on the Gamecocks’ home floor.
What they ran into was a hostile environment and talented basketball team that was hitting on all cylinders. South Carolina’s dominant first half was more than enough to send the Gamecocks to the Sweet 16 for the 10th straight season and end the injury-plagued Tar Heels’ season with an 88-41 decision Sunday afternoon at Colonial Life Arena.
“Huge congratulations to South Carolina and their fan base. They really wrapped their arms around this program,” UNC coach Courtney Banghart said. “Obviously a home-court advantage is helpful. They’ve earned it, and it played to their advantage.”
Sunday’s game was nothing like when these two programs faced each other on Nov. 30 in Chapel Hill. Three Tar Heels players from that game were in street clothes for this one — Kayla McPherson, Paulina Paris and Reniya Kelly.
The Tar Heels (20-13) got out quickly in that first game and held the lead at the half, until a huge third quarter helped South Carolina (34-0) rally for a 65-58 victory.
Those key injuries shortly thereafter shortened the North Carolina bench and forced the tar Heels’ starters to play major minutes.
Against the Gamecocks, that turned out to be a disaster. The teams traded blows in the early going until the South Carolina reserves keyed a 40-5 run to give the home team control.
Freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley played a season-low three minutes in that first contest against North Carolina but was a menace on both ends of the floor this time. She scored a game-high 20 points to go along with nine rebounds, three steals, three blocks and an assist.
Chloe Kitts added 12 points off the bench and Tessa Johnson chipped in 11 as the South Carolina reserves outscored the UNC bench 51-0. Kamilla Cardoso, coming off a one-game suspension in the first round of the tournament and playing in what could be her final home game for USC, added 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Ashlyn Watkins chipped in with 11 points.
“We don’t have a lot of ball-handling guards. The last time we played them, we had three different ball-handling guards,” Banghart said.
That opening sprint allowed South Carolina to hold a 56-19 lead at the half. That was too much for the depleted Tar Heels to overcome.
“They had a lot of intensity, a lot of energy,” three-time All-ACC selection Deja Kelly said. “They just brought the pressure on. I felt like I had two people on me at all times.”
Alyssa Ustby led North Carolina with 12 points and six rebounds. Maria Gakdeng added eight points with Kelly, Lexi Donarski and Indya Nivar adding seven apiece. The Tar Heels scored a season-low 41 points (their previous low was 54 in a win over Vermont). They also shot just 23.8 percent for the game.
“This was one of our toughest years,” Kelly said because of the injuries. “It required a lot of pick-me-up from the veterans. The injuries hit us hard. I think it was a lot of up and down moments.”
This story was originally published March 24, 2024 at 4:05 PM with the headline "UNC women run into South Carolina buzz saw in second-round NCAA Tournament loss."