While the college basketball world was paying attention to Caitlin Clark in the Big Ten Women’s Tournament, the South Carolina women were on the brink of losing their first game of the season, until Tennessee’s defense fumbled that final play of regulation.
There weren’t many folks thinking this game would come down to the final shot, given that the Gamecocks were up 23 points at one point in the game. But, Tennessee ended up fighting back in the second half to cause the pro-Gamecock crowd to start preparing for the worst.
If you were wondering what could happen when you draw up a really bad defensive play with the lead, the Vols should now be a case study for years to come. Leading 73-71 and with two fouls to give, Tennessee took advantage of the scenario and forced the Gamecocks to in-bound the ball with just one second remaining on the clock.
GREENVILLE, S.C. – The South Carolina Gamecocks’ Camila Cardoso hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to win the game against the Tennessee Lady Vols. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
Vols head coach Kelly Harper certainly didn’t notice South Carolina’s Camila Cardozo on the final play, and her defense gave Cardozo all the shooting room in the world. Even though the Gamecocks center had never shot a 3-pointer in her career, head coach Dawn Staley told her to give it a try.
So with only the final seconds remaining and a potential upset brewing, Gamecocks fans are about to witness one of the craziest endings to a basketball game we’ve seen this season. Thanks to the Tennessee defense, Camila Cardozo was open on a last-second shot and she knocked the ball off the backboard.
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Those were just a few of the reactions from thousands of people in the SEC Tournament semifinals.
Cardozo hit her first 3-pointer, South Carolina players rushed the court to celebrate, and Tennessee coach Kelly Harper could only hang her head, knowing how bad the defense was in the final seconds.
On the verge of one of the biggest upsets we’ve seen this season, the Volunteers decided to leave a shooter open for the final shot. No matter how many three-pointers Cardozo made before this game, you never leave a player with that much of a chance to win the game.
I think it’s fair to say Tennessee will never play this type of defense in a final game again.