Andraya Carter, Rebecca Lobo gush over South Carolina's dominant first half vs. UNC

South Carolina played about as well as you can play in the first half of Sunday’s NCAA Tournament game against North Carolina, dominating the Tar Heels from the opening tip to take a 56-19 halftime lead.

Everything seemed to be working for the Gamecocks, who played a close game with UNC during the regular season.

ESPN analyst Andraya Carter was nearly speechless after watching the first half performance by South Carolina.

“South Carolina just dominated. They dominated. They dragged it. However you want to put it, that was beautiful basketball. I can’t get over it. I’m just blown away,” Carter said on ABC. “Thirty-two points from the bench, 15 fast-break points, 14 assists on 19 made baskets. They’re 80 percent from 3, and it’s not because they took five of them. They took 10 of them.  

“The way that this team plays together, they find each other, they don’t hang their head. They keep going. And Milaysia Fulwiley has made such big strides defensively.”

Speaking of Fulwiley, she came off the bench to lead the way with 11 points in the first half. Fellow freshman Tessa Johnson also scored 11 points off the bench, while sophomore Chloe Kitts had 10 bench points.

South Carolina made 19 of 32 field goals in the first half, including 8 of 10 3-pointers.

“What’s really interesting to me is the contrast with the first time these two teams met. In that game, South Carolina scored 65 points in the game. They have 56 here already,” fellow ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo said. “And the other thing they’re doing so well is assisting the basketball. They only had eight assists in that first matchup. Their passing in this game has been stellar.”

Carter added that she is confident the Gamecocks can go all the way after coming up short in the Final Four last season.

South Carolina will advance to the Sweet 16, assuming it holds off North Carolina.

“This is why when I’ve been asked coming into the tournament, would you take South Carolina or the field, I’ve said South Carolina,” Carter said. “North Carolina’s not a bad team. They just look really bad right now going against South Carolina. When South Carolina plays their best basketball, this is what it looks like. It really is hard to stop them. They have so many weapons. They’re together on both ends of the floor. I’m glad ABC fans that are tuning in get to see this type of performance.”