By ADAM ZAGORIA
A near-brawl broke out in the SEC women’s championship game between South Carolina and LSU and multiple players were ejected from the game won by the top-ranked Gamecocks, 79-72, for their eighth SEC Tournament title.
South Carolina star forward Kamilla Cardoso, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, was one of six players ejected after she shoved LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson to the floor late in the fourth quarter Sunday. Cardoso, who averages about 14 points and 10 rebounds, will not be eligible for the first round of the NCAA Tournament as a result.
“I just want to apologize to the basketball community,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said on ESPN. “When you’re playing a championship game like this, things get heated. No bad intentions, their emotions got so far ahead of them that sometimes these things happen. I want to apologize for us playing a part in that.”
She added while speaking to the crowd: “I know it didn’t come from an ugly place. It came from a place of being competitors. We don’t like the reaction. We will get better when handling situations like this so I want to apologize for our South Carolina women’s basketball team.”
LSU and South Carolina players got into a scuffle in the fourth quarter of the SEC Championship. pic.twitter.com/rXw1tb1jWM
— ESPN (@espn) March 10, 2024
Gamecocks guard MiLaysia Fulwiley had stolen the ball from Johnson, who wrapped her up and was called for an intentional foul. Johnson bumped South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins while heading to her bench, and then the 6-foot-7 Cardoso rushed in and pushed the 5-10 Johnson to the ground.
“It’s ugly, it’s not good,” said LSU coach Kim Mulkey. “No one wants to be a part of that. No one wants to see that ugliness, but I’ll tell you this. I wish she would’ve pushed Angel Reese. She’s 6-8, don’t push somebody that little. That was uncalled for, in my opinion.”
Said Cardoso in a statement: “I would like to extend my sincerest apologies for my actions during today’s game. My behavior was not representative of who I am as a person or the program, and I deeply regret any discomfort or inconvenience it may have caused.
“I take full responsibilities for my actions and assure you that I am committed to conducting myself with the utmost respect and sportsmanship in the future.”
In all, four South Carolina players were ejected and the Gamecocks had six remaining.
LSU was left with only its starting five players after two reserves were disqualified.
Dawn Staley spoke about the scuffle between LSU and South Carolina following the Gamecocks’ SEC championship win. pic.twitter.com/vnF8WD3boW
— espnW (@espnW) March 10, 2024
A man identified on the ESPN telecast as Johnson’s brother jumped over the scorer’s table onto the court and briefly made contact with Cardoso before being escorted away by police officers.
Staley was screaming towards the LSU bench.
The Gamecocks led 73-66 with 2:08 to play when the dustup took place, and the game was delayed for about 15 minutes while officials reviewed video of the incident.
Said Reese: “We’re not scared of South Carolina and I want to repeat that, we’re not scared of South Carolina and a lot of people are scared of them. We’ll see them again. I’m happy where we are right now, and anybody who’s seeing us moving forward should be scared.”
(The AP contributed reporting/ )
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