Shiv Telegram Media: South Carolina triumphs over LSU in womens SEC championship amid post-game incident
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South Carolina Gamecocks Win Eighth SEC Championship Amid Near-Brawl
The South Carolina Gamecocks secured their eighth SEC championship under Coach Dawn Staley with a 79-72 victory over LSU in a tense matchup. The Gamecocks remained undefeated at 32-0 after the game, but not without controversy.
A near-brawl in the fourth quarter interrupted the game for 20 minutes, resulting in multiple ejections. LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson and South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso were involved in an incident that led to both players being ejected, along with several others.
Despite the chaos, Zia Cooke led all scorers with 24 points for the Gamecocks, while Aneesah Morrow led the Tigers with 19 points. Angel Reese, who struggled with an ankle injury, managed to score 15 points and grab 13 rebounds for South Carolina.
South Carolina had led by as many as 13 points in the third quarter before LSU fought back to make it a close game. Both teams are now eagerly awaiting Selection Sunday for the NCAA tournament seedings.
Following the game, Kamilla Cardoso apologized on social media for her role in the scuffle. LSU Coach Kim Mulkey defended Flau’jae Johnson and criticized Cardoso’s actions. As a result of her ejection, Cardoso will miss the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Coach Dawn Staley apologized for the near-brawl in a post-game interview, while Angel Reese of LSU showed no fear of facing South Carolina again in the future, despite their loss in the SEC championship game. Reese had arrived at the game in a walking boot due to an ankle injury sustained in a previous match.
LSU had to navigate injuries throughout the SEC tournament, with Reese playing through a twisted ankle and another player suffering a concussion. The SEC championship game will certainly be remembered for both the Gamecocks’ victory and the controversial near-brawl that marred the event.
