#1 South Carolina survives at #24 North Carolina

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In its first road test of the season, South Carolina also faced its toughest opposition so far, but the #1 Gamecocks came from behind to hold off #24 North Carolina 65-58.

South Carolina got off to a miserable start. The Gamecocks turned the ball over on their first three possessions and trailed 6-0 before finally scoring. In all. They started 1-5 with four turnovers as North Carolina took a 9-2 lead.

Dawn Staley let South Carolina play through the issues and refused to call a timeout, even as she repeatedly substituted players. North Carolina would build leads of 10 in the first quarter and 11 early in the second before South Carolina was able to find its footing.

“You saw how young we are,” Staley said. “I didn’t think we met the moment in the first half.”

• RELATED: South Carolina-North Carolina box score

South Carolina used a 10-1 third-quarter run to take its first lead of the game. Te-Hina Paopao hit two threes during the run, including the go-ahead basket behind a screen from Kamilla Cardoso. Raven Johnson added the other four points and South Carolina led 41-37 at the media timeout.

A Lexi Donarski three-pointer cut South Carolina’s lead to one, but Ashlyn Watkins made an elbow jumper and Paopao hit another three to give South Carolina breathing room. 

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“They felt big,” Paopao said. “Credit to my teammates for finding me and screening for me and getting me open so I was able to knock down a three.”

A long jumper by Chloe Kitts and then Bree Hall hit a three on an out-of-bounds play to put South Carolina up 60-52. Raven Johnson missed three free throws to open a window for North Carolina, but then Kitts and Watkins each sank a pair to clinch the win.

“I think we grew up a lot,” Hall said.

Hall led South Carolina with 15 points. Paopao had 14, and Kitts and Watkins finished with 11 and 10 respectively. 

“Breezy played like the experienced guard she is who has been to two Final Fours,” Staley said. “She’s been working. She’s wanted a performance like this on both sides of the basketball.”

The game got chippy early when Deja Kelly hipchecked Watkins and they started shoving each other. They were assessed double-technicals, but still got into a few more testy exchanges throughout the first half. 

Kelly was nearly unstoppable early and had 12 points at halftime. But she seemed to wear down by the third quarter, and then banged the back of her head on the court after Kamilla Cardoso blocked her layup attempt. Kelly lay on the floor for several minutes before being helped to the locker room, but returned to start the fourth quarter. She finished with 20 points before fouling out.

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With South Carolina’s offense struggling – the Gamecocks shot just 39%, and only six fast break points, and were outrebounded 45-39 – they turned to their defense. North Carolina 31% for the game and 26.5% over the last three quarters.

“Our defense was pretty good,” Staley said. “We forced them into taking bad shots and did not give them a lot of looks that they wanted.”

Notes:

Kamilla Cardoso fouled out with six points but tied her career-high with 16 rebounds. … Tessa Johnson returned after missing three games with a sprained right ankle. She was scoreless in nine minutes of playing time. … South Carolina was 6-11 from three. North Carolina was 4-21. … MiLaysia Fulwiley struggled defensively and only played three minutes, all in the first half. … Alyssa Utsby had 18 points and 12 rebounds for North Carolina. … Dawn Staley’s outfit: Staley wore her black Louis Vuitton Alphabet sweater. … Announced attendance was 6,319. … South Carolina’s next game is Sunday at Duke.

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