Columbia, S.C. — Kamilla Cardoso scored 16 points and grabbed 16 boards as No. 1 South Carolina rallied past Georgia 70-56 on Sunday to win its record 43rd straight Southeastern Conference regular-season game.
A cold winter afternoon outside, but hot inside Colonial Life Arena. The starting lineup introduced to a packed house alongside towering flames. Fitting as the Gamecocks look to continue scorching their way through streaks. The Gamecocks have 55consecutive wins at home, and 27 straight double-digit home victories to go with the SEC record.
Not that it came easily. The Gamecocks (25-0, 12-0 SEC) trailed 37-28 when Javyn Nicholson hit the first basket of the third quarter as the sold-out crowd watched in disbelief.
But behind Cardoso, Te-Hina Paopao, Chloe Kitts, and MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina cranked it up to remain the country’s only undefeated Division I team.
Cardoso scored three straight points and Kitts had six of her team’s next eight points to draw within 40-39. Fulwiley, the dynamic freshman, took over after that. Her basket put South Carolina in front for good and she followed with two foul shots and a spinning drive through lane that resulted in an easy basket for Ashlyn Watkins.
Georgia kept things within single digits until the final period when back-to-back 3s by Oregon transfer Paopao widened things to 60-48.
The Bulldogs (11-14, 2-10) could not recover and lost their 18th straight to the Gamecocks.
Nicholson had a career-high 27 points, surpassing her previous best of 24 set earlier this season against Ball State. She added 12 rebounds for her 14th double-double this year. When asked about Javyn Nicholson Coach Stalley added “She’s big ,she’s strong, and she can shoot”.
Ta- Hina Paopao hit two out of her five 3-pointers in the 4th quarter. During a 10-run by the Gamecocks. Cardoso finished the game with a double-double at 16-16 as one of three Gamecocks to finish the game in double-digit scoring.
It was Nicholson and the Bulldogs who pushed the pace early on with a 17-2 surge between the first and second quarters to build a 23-17 lead.
They remained ahead, 37-28 after Nicholson had a pair of three-point plays and her opening shot of the third quarter before the Gamecocks took full control of the game. Another double-digit home win was the result.
UP NEXT:
The Gamecocks will hit the floor again at home against Alabama on Thursday February 22nd at 7pm. With a victory Thursday night, South Carolina can clinch the regular season SEC title. The win would be the 8th for the program under coach Dawn Staley.
