The Gamecock women’s team is playing some of their best basketball at the right time, capturing two dominant wins last weekend to open NCAA tournament play. 

The team took its home court in Colonial Life Arena for the final time this season. South Carolina started with a win over 16-seed Presbyterian March 21, 91-39, and then beat 8-seed North Carolina two days later, 88-41. 

“We haven’t played like that in a super long time,” Gamecock head coach Dawn Staley said. “We actually were talking about that in the coaches’ locker room. Like, we haven’t played well all together. Every single one of our players made an impact coming into the game. And we needed a performance like this. And hopefully playing this good of basketball can be contagious throughout the rest of the way.”

The wins booked the Gamecocks a ticket to Albany for the Sweet Sixteen and potentially Elite Eight. This is the 11th Sweet Sixteen appearance for the Gamecocks under Staley and the 10th in a row. 

The depth of South Carolina has separated them from the competition. Every player who steps on the court can contribute in meaningful ways, even if they don’t score. That was most apparent in the North Carolina game. 

The Gamecocks bench outscored the Tar Heels second unit 51-0. Nine Gamecocks scored in that game, including five in double-figures and two with eight points. 

“One of our keys is always bench production,” Staley said. “I have the utmost confidence in our bench. We’ve put them in a position to play all season long. So what they’re doing right now is not a surprise. It was built that way from the very beginning.”

Freshman and Keenan alumn MiLaysia Fulwiley has captured the national spotlight on multiple occasions this year with flashy highlights. But her performances through two tournament games show she has the potential to be one of the best in the game for years to come. 

Fulwiley scored 17 points against Presbyterian after hitting five three-pointers. She followed this up with a team-high 20 points and added nine rebounds, three steals and three blocks. 

“When I step on the court out, my main focus is usually defense,” Fulwiley said. “Once I’m playing great defense, and I get good steals, I feel like my offense usually flows and just comes to me.”

After missing the first game due to suspension, Kamilla Cardoso made her tournament debut against the Tar Heels and secured her 14 double-double this season. She finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds in just under 25 minutes of playing time. 

“Kamilla had a hard time with it, to be quite honest. She felt like she let her team down, and she was almost embarrassed by not being able to play,” Staley said. “I’m happy that she got over that part of it, and now we can move on, and we’ll be at a neutral site and she can just kind of focus in on what she needs to do to help us continue to win.”

South Carolina will look to continue winning this weekend when the team plays 4-seed Indiana in Albany on March 29.