Albany, NY—-In a SEC and Big10 showdown, the No. 1 seeded South Carolina Gamecocks narrowly escaped a determined challenge from the No. 4 seeded Indiana Hoosiers, clinching a hard-fought 79-75 victory to secure their spot in the Elite Eight. The game, filled with electrifying moments and intense exchanges, showcased the resilience of the South Carolina Gamecocks..
Leading the charge for the Gamecocks was Kamilla Cardoso, 22 points and 7 rebounds, providing crucial momentum for her team. Raven Johnson also made significant impact with 14 points and 6 assists, helping to keep the Hoosiers at bay during critical junctures of the game.
South Carolina dominated the first half, heading into the locker room with a commanding 49-32 lead. However, Indiana refused to back down, mounting a fierce comeback in the second half that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Sydney Parris spearheaded Indiana’s offensive efforts with 21 points, while Yarden Garzon added 16 points to the scoreboard. Senior Mackenzie Holmes proved to be a formidable opponent for Cardoso, delivering a gritty performance with 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists.
“We are excited to be moving on to the Elite 8. Just want to say that Indiana is really tough basketball team that wanted to move on, and they gave an incredible effort in the third and fourth quarter to get themselves back in the game and put us back on our heels.
“I wish the seniors well, and I know that Teri will get her team back in this position aagain in the future.” South Carolina Dawn Staley said.
The third quarter the Hoosiers went to Parrish, she scored eight of her 21 points as she went back-to-back draining threes while attacking the glass with 4:33 left in the game. South Carolina responded with back-to-back buckets, but IU wouldn’t go away quietly as Moore-McNeil’s five points pulled to a 65-55 game at the end of the third frame.
It was Parrish again that had the hot hand, as she hit a pair of big treys to make it a two-possession game with 3:58 to go. Senior guard Sara Scalia hit her second triple of the night as Parrish wen to the charity stripe line to keep the contest within four points, 74-70, with 1:42 ticks on the clock.
Holmes’ move around the defender with just over a minute to play cut it down to two, but South Carolina’s Raven Johnson drained a 3-pointer with 21 seconds remaining to seal the contest.
Despite Indiana’s relentless push, South Carolina managed to weather the storm, relying on their composure and clutch plays to maintain their lead. The Gamecocks’ resilience and ability to withstand pressure ultimately proved decisive in securing the hard-fought victory.
As the final buzzer sounded, South Carolina emerged victorious, but not without immense respect for the valiant effort put forth by the Indiana Hoosiers. With their ticket punched to the Elite Eight, the Gamecocks now turn their attention to the next challenge, eager to continue their pursuit of championship glory.
The Gamecocks will take on the Oregon State Beavers on Sunday for an 1:00 PM start time.
