No. 1 South Carolina, Cardoso win 45th straight at home, overwhelm Devilettes 101-19

Associated Press,

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Kamilla Cardoso had 14 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks as No. 1 South Carolina won its record-tying 45th straight home game, 101-19 over Mississippi Valley State on Friday.

This one was never in doubt as the Gamecocks (5-0) led by double digits just five minutes in, by 40 at the half and held the Devilettes (1-5) to the fewest points allowed in coach Dawn Staley’s 16 seasons.

Te-Hina Paopao, an Oregon transfer, returned from missing a game with an ankle injury and shored up South Carolina’s outside shooting with two early 3-pointers to finish with 10 points and eight rebounds.

The Gamecocks finished with seven players in double figures. MiLaysia Fulwiley had a game-high 17 points while Ashlyn Watkins had 14.

South Carolina matched its program best for consecutive home wins, first set between February 2013 and February 2016.

The Devilettes (1-5) lone highlight came early when they took a 2-0 lead on Sh’Diamond McKnight’s bucket less than minute in. Moments later, South Carolina led 20-6 on a pair of Paopoa threes and the 6-foot-7 Cardoso’s dominance down low.

Knight had eight points to lead Mississippi Valley State which scored its fewest points since losing 95-22 at Wyoming in December 2019.

NOTABLES
  • The 101-19 win over MVSU was the largest margin of victory in the Dawn Staley era at 82 points (second all-time), alongside the fewest points ever allowed for an opponent in program history (previously 21 vs. Howard and South Carolina State).
  • The Gamecocks out-rebounded the Devilettes 66-33 and packed the paint finishing with 72 points to MVSU’s eight.
  • Seven players finished in double-digits for the second time this season, and it was the fourth game this season with five or more players ending with 10 or more.
  • Sophomore Surge: Chloe Kitts, Ashlyn Watkins and Raven Johnson have excelled, with each more than doubling their scoring averages through the first five games compared to all of last season.
  • Kamilla Cardoso notched her fourth double-double in the first five games of the season, finishing her fifth-consecutive game with double-figure points.
  • Raven Johnson had her third double-figure game, tying her career high of eight boards and five steals along the way.
  • Te-Hina Paopao returned from injury to tally her fourth game with 10 or more points, setting a new season high of eight rebounds and her first block of the year.
Categories: Local Sports, South Carolina Sports, Sports, USC Gamecocks

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