Perfection: No. 1 USC caps undefeated regular season with Senior Day win over Georgia
The Gamecocks completed the regular season with an unblemished record.
No. 1 South Carolina (29-0, 16-0 SEC) defeated Georgia 73-63 Sunday on the Gamecocks’ Senior Day to secure the first undefeated season in program history.
Just like the team’s January meeting, Sunday’s first half at Colonial Life Arena was a competitive, defensive battle. USC got out to a better start than the earlier game and built an eight-point halftime lead.
Physicality persisted throughout the game. Dawn Staley and Georgia head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson each had conversations with the officials after the halftime buzzer. Gamecock fans booed Abrahamson-Henderson as she walked back to the visiting locker room.
USC took 12 first-half free throws, and Georgia (20-10, 9-7 SEC) took nine.
Both teams played through the contact throughout the game. South Carolina used its rebounding advantage to secure extra possessions and eventually earned more scoring opportunities in the post to run away from the Bulldogs.
The Gamecocks took a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter after a layup from junior center Kamilla Cardoso and remained in control from there.
USC completed the season with a perfect 15-0 home record.
South Carolina now moves on to the SEC tournament in Greenville, where it will be the No. 1 overall seed. The Gamecocks play their first game on Friday at noon.
SENIOR DAY
The Gamecocks honored all seven of their seniors before Sunday’s game, with a tribute video to the recruiting class of 2019 — a group affectionately called “The Freshies.” Aliyah Boston, Zia Cooke, Brea Beal, Laeticia Amihere and Olivia Thompson were in that class and are the team’s four-year seniors.
Late in the fourth quarter, all five shared the court for a few seconds of game time.
“I think it was a special moment,” Boston said. “And I think the crowd did a great job of welcoming (Thompson) onto the floor.”
Victoria Saxton and Kierra Fletcher are in their fifth college basketball seasons, with Fletcher spending her first four at Georgia Tech.
Each player came onto the court with their families and received replicas of their game jerseys.
The players took pictures after the ceremony with their teammates, coaching staff and families. Plenty of tears were shed as the crowd applauded each senior during their introductions.
“I’m super proud that our parents are proud that they sent their daughters here, and they’ve been successful in all aspects of their life,” Staley said, “not just on the basketball court.”
It was the play of the seniors that guided USC throughout the game. Boston finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds, and Cooke added 12 points.
Cardoso, a junior, excelled off the bench with 13 points and 10 rebounds, her seventh double-double of the season.
TOURNAMENT TIME
South Carolina secured sole ownership of the SEC regular-season title with the win, but already snagged the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament with its win against Tennessee.
The SEC tournament starts on Wednesday in Greenville, but the Gamecocks earned a double-bye and will begin their postseason on Friday at noon.
The Gamecocks have won two of the last three SEC tournament championships, and six overall, under Staley. USC lost in the conference championship last year to Kentucky.
“I think that we are focused. Everybody has bought into Coach and the entire coaching staff and what they want from us,” Boston said. “And I just think we’re ready to embrace the next season because we gotta win.”
South Carolina is the projected No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament bracket as well. If that holds, USC wouldn’t have to play outside of the Palmetto State until the Final Four, which takes place in Dallas.
Selection Sunday, which officially reveals the NCAA tournament field, is on March 12 at 8 p.m on ESPN. The first and second rounds are March 17-20.
SOUTH CAROLINA WBB SCHEDULE
Friday, noon: SEC tournament, opponent TBD
This story was originally published February 26, 2023 at 1:58 PM.
