Full Recap: Chloe Kitts is CLUTCH as South Carolina Powers Past Duke in the Elite Eight

Woman, what? Go get the ball.

These are the phrases South Carolina PG Ta-hina Paopao mentioned to Chloe Kitts, according to The Athletics’ Cameron Teague Robinson, shortly after the group left the huddle within the fourth. All sport lengthy, the Gamecocks had held their very own in opposition to the Blue Devils, and on the final offensive possession, head coach Daybreak Staley had a imaginative and prescient: give her 6-2 ahead the rock.

Easy as that.

As all of them walked again on to the ground, Kitts requested her PG to take the reins, and that’s when Paopao reminded Kitts who she is. The 6-2 ahead is the newest put up participant prodigy that’s emerged right into a star beneath Daybreak Staley, and after getting fouled, she had the possibility to increase the Gamecocks lead and take them to the Last 4…

That is only a glimpse of went down on Sunday night time in opposition to the Gamecocks and the Blue Devils in a must-see TV Elite Eight matchup. As we gear up for the remainder of the tourney, right here’s a glance again at how South Carolina sealed the deal and are powering their method to the Last 4.

The No.1 Gamecocks have been examined time and time once more all through the Massive Dance, most not too long ago in opposition to Maryland, however have but to falter. Their matchup in opposition to the Blue Devils was their largest problem but, although you wouldn’t have recognized from the primary quarter. 

SC meant enterprise within the first: SC ahead Sania Feagin, who had six factors and one block, battled it out within the put up in opposition to Duke ahead Toby Fournier (7 factors and a block).

The Gamecock’s offense had a strong displaying, placing up 16 however their protection is what actually gave them the enhance, holding Duke to only 10.

SC’s offense saved at it up till in regards to the midway mark of the second quarter, when Duke began to chip away on the 11 level lead, happening an 8-1 run to shut out the second. 

What regarded like the beginning of a runaway for the Gamecocks become a sport in a short time because the Devils lower SC’s result in simply 4 factors going into the second half. 

It was Reigan Richardson’s three that gave them Duke their first lead of the sport. The Blue Devils turned up their depth, too, with a big-time block from Fournier.

Although Duke was in management for almost all of the third, South Carolina was by no means far behind. Ending the final couple minutes going bucket for bucket, it was Ashlon Jackson’s step again three that gave them a 42-38 lead going into the fourth. 

The forwards and backwards between Fouriner and Feagin continued as Fouriner received free off a decide and roll and completed by means of contact to tie it again up at 46 to which Feagan responded with a fadeaway jumper to place SC again on high. South Carolina had outscored Duke, 12-4, at that time within the fourth. 

The final two minutes each groups traded some robust buckets and although South Carolina maintained a lead, Duke was by no means down by greater than 4 factors. With a minute to go, Duke’s Oluchi Okananwa drove baseline for a a lot wanted two making it a two level sport. 

South Carolina got here down with 55.3 seconds on the clock trying to run the clock and make a play, however was unable to safe a bucket. The shot went up and everybody on the ground boxed out. The subsequent possession might make or break both season. 

The ball received knocked out of bounds with 30 seconds left and Duke head coach Kara Lawson determined to problem in hopes of overturning the decision and giving her group the additional possession. After evaluate, the ball remained South Carolina’s. 

On the lookout for choices to take the ball out beneath, Ashlon Jackson drew an offensive foul on Bree Corridor, giving the possession as much as Duke earlier than the ball was even in bounds. 

The Blue Devils ran by means of a pair completely different units earlier than the SC protection was an excessive amount of to deal with, leaving Ashlon Jackson to pressure a triple that was no good. A foul was referred to as in opposition to Duke on the field out with simply 6.4 on the clock, South Carolina ball. 

SC’s Head coach Daybreak Staley referred to as a timeout to advance the ball to their sideline whereas Duke thought Corridor was going to be taking pictures. With all of the Blue Devils lined up free of charge throws, Sc was in a position to inbound simply, with Duke scrambling to foul. 

It was SC’s Chloe Kitts that was despatched to the road with the chance to get the sport out of hanging distance. She buried each FTs, securing a 4 level lead and punching South Carolina’s ticket to the Last 4. 

“It feels wonderful as a result of I really feel like I labored so laborious, and my course of is completely different,” she mentioned per The Athletic. “I’m simply so grateful to be in that place on the finish of the sport to go to the Last 4,” Kitts mentioned.

You couldn’t have requested for a greater ending for the Gamecocks. Kitts led her squad with 14 factors and 4 rebounds, incomes Birmingham Regional MVP.

South Carolina is headed to their fifth straight Last 4 and can face the winner of TCU and Texas.

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