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, in response to The Athletics’ Cameron Teague Robinson, shortly after the workforce left the huddle within the fourth. All recreation lengthy, the Gamecocks had held their very own towards 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 most recent publish participant prodigy that’s emerged right into a star beneath Daybreak Staley, and after getting fouled, she had the prospect to increase the Gamecocks lead and take them to the Remaining 4…

That is only a glimpse of went down on Sunday night time towards 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 Remaining 4.

The No.1 Gamecocks have been examined time and time once more all through the Large Dance, most not too long ago towards Maryland, however have but to falter. Their matchup towards the Blue Devils was their largest problem but, although you wouldn’t have identified 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 publish towards Duke ahead Toby Fournier (7 factors and a block).

The Gamecock’s offense had a stable 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 recreation 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 bought free off a choose and roll and completed by contact to tie it again up at 46 to which Feagan responded with a fadeaway jumper to place SC again on prime. South Carolina had outscored Duke, 12-4, at that time within the fourth.

The final two minutes each groups traded some powerful 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 recreation.

South Carolina got here down with 55.3 seconds on the clock seeking 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 following possession may make or break both season.

The ball bought 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 workforce the additional possession. After overview, 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 a pair totally different units earlier than the SC protection was an excessive amount of to deal with, leaving Ashlon Jackson to drive a triple that was no good. A foul was referred to as towards 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 capturing. With all of the Blue Devils lined up without cost throws, Sc was capable of 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 placing distance. She buried each FTs, securing a 4 level lead and punching South Carolina’s ticket to the Remaining 4.

“It feels wonderful as a result of I really feel like I labored so arduous, and my course of is totally 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 Remaining 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.