COLUMBIA, S.C. — Just three teams that have come within seven points of beating undefeated South Carolina this season. One of them was North Carolina.
On Sunday, the eighth-seeded Tar Heels will get another crack at dethroning No. 1 overall seed South Carolina when the schools clash for the chance to advance to the Sweet 16.
“Obviously, it’s a familiar nonconference opponent,” Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said. “And we look forward to seeing the adjustment they’ll make and the adjustments we’ll make, and it should make for a great game.”
North Carolina (20-12) held off a late surge from No. 9 Michigan State on Friday to win 59-56. South Carolina (33-0) clobbered No. 16 Presbyterian 91-39 without starters Kamilla Cardoso and Bree Hall.
Cardoso was suspended for one game for fighting in the SEC tournament title game, while Hall was held out for “precautionary reasons,” according to the team. Both are expected to play against the Tar Heels.
“Part of South Carolina’s brilliance is how competitive they are across the roster,” North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart said. “If you have some weak links competitively, you’re going to get blown out.”
The Tar Heels have endured injuries this season and have tried four players at point guard. Despite some inconsistent play, the Tar Heels have beaten five teams in the NCAA Tournament field — Oklahoma, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Louisville and NC State — and it’s also one that has lost to the likes of Boston College and Virginia.
Since Reniya Kelly last played in an overtime loss to Duke on Feb. 11, Deja Kelly has slid over to the point from the two-guard spot. Over those last eight games, Deja Kelly — an All-ACC First Team selection — has averaged 15.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 42.3 percent from 3-point range. The Tar Heels have gone 5-3.
“She’s a killer,” Staley said of Kelly. “She wants to win. She’s super competitive.”
South Carolina is attempting to go to the Sweet 16 for the 10th straight time under Staley and win its third national title.
When the Gamecocks played the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Nov. 30, North Carolina built an 11-point lead in the second quarter and was up by three at halftime. South Carolina outscored the host 21-12 in the third quarter en route to a 65-58 victory.
“They were physical, they were really aggressive, and they came out swinging first. That took us a while to adjust,” South Carolina guard Te-Hina Paopao said. “We’ve just got to come out with aggression and be physical and just be who we are.”
A difference between that game and this one for the Gamecocks could be the increased role for MiLaysia Fulwiley, the SEC Tournament MVP. Fulwiley played just three minutes against the Tar Heels, but has played no fewer than 16 minutes in each of her last nine games.
“North Carolina plays a certain way. You’re either going to be as aggressive as they are or not, and I just don’t think she was as aggressive. What she’s learned is, she’s got to play some defense,” Staley said of Fulwiley. “Her on-ball defense — it’s getting to the point where it’s really, really, really good.”
–Mitchell Northam, Field Level Media
