Led by transfer Kamilla Cardoso, newcomers shine in South Carolina’s exhibition win
Kamilla Cardoso’s smile said it all.
Cardoso, a transfer portal addition from Syracuse, was all over the court at Colonial Life Arena on Monday night. The 6-foot-7 center led South Carolina in three categories with 18 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks, and she couldn’t have looked much happier as the Gamecocks routed Benedict in their 98-41 exhibition win.
“She’s a sponge,” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said after the game. “She really understands how to play. You can implement things and it only takes her one look to see it and execute it.”
Cardoso, the reigning ACC Co-Defender of the Year, was the star of a night that included meaningful contributions from all five of South Carolina’s newcomers. The Gamecocks’ four freshmen, which made up Staley’s No. 1 recruiting class in 2021, combined for 26 points, six rebounds and nine assists.
Staley said she felt like Monday’s exhibition gave her a good look at players’ strengths, and she’ll be looking for consistency in upcoming practices. She was especially impressed with freshman point guard Raven Johnson, who scored eight points and totaled seven assists.
“I don’t even know if she practiced that well,” Staley said. “Maybe she’s a gamer, but she hasn’t practiced the flow, the playing fast and slow, slow to fast, controlling and organizing. We can continue to get that kind of effort from her and just kind of seal up our point guard play.”
Reigning Gatorade Player of the Year Saniya Rivers scored 11 points and blocked two shots against Benedict.
“She’s an elite offensive player,” Staley said. “She’s got that ‘it factor’ when it comes to offense, but she also has to play a little bit more aggressive on both sides of the basketball.”
After the game, Rivers said she and South Carolina’s other four newcomers knew they were joining a team that returned every member of last year’s Final Four squad, and she sees everything coming together for another deep run this year.
“It’s just like you have that great team, and we’re just adding pieces, adding talent,” Rivers said. “We have a lot of talent — we just have to put it together. Once we put that together, no one’s gonna stop us.”
Staley said she’ll likely continue with the established starting five from a season ago — Aliyah Boston, Brea Beal, Destanni Henderson, Victaria Saxton and Zia Cooke, assuming she’s healthy. Cooke, who didn’t play in the exhibition, is nursing an ankle injury. Cooke would have been able to play if the regular season had started Monday, Staley said.
Rotations aren’t set, and the Gamecocks have one week to turn up the intensity in practice before traveling to Raleigh to take on No. 5 N.C. State in their season opener Nov. 9.
“Our job is to win basketball games, so we’ve got to figure out what rotation fits best at any given time,” Staley said. “We have players who specialize in certain things. We only want what they do best this particular year, and we don’t know what best is needed at any given time.”
Some things are for certain. South Carolina’s newcomers are sharp, and Cardoso’s presence in particular has the potential to be a difference maker as the Gamecocks make their way through one of the nation’s toughest schedules.
“We knew that Kamilla was going to be great coming in,” Rivers said. “As soon as she committed, I was over-the-moon excited. ... Her going out there, playing confident, getting and-1s, getting rebounds, putbacks, it was just beautiful basketball, and I can’t wait to see what she does this season.”
Gamecock exhibition play time, by minutes
* denotes newcomer
Starters (minutes)
Destanni Henderson 23
Aliyah Boston 18
Brea Beal 17
Victaria Saxton 14
Eniya Russell 12
Reserves (minutes)
* Kamilla Cardoso 22
* Saniya Rivers 20
* Raven Johnson 18
Laeticia Amihere 16
Destiny Littleton 14
* Bree Hall 12
* Sania Feagin 7
Olivia Thompson 3
Elysa Wesolek 3
Next South Carolina women’s basketball game
Who: No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks at No. 5 N.C. State Wolfpack
When: Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m.
Where: Reynolds Coliseum (5,500) in Raleigh, N.C.
TV: ESPN
This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
