Last Monday, the No. 6 South Carolina Gamecocks (1-0) lit up the City of Lights, running away from the No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish for the 100-71 victory in Paris. Back stateside, they welcome the No. 14 Maryland Terrapins (1-0) to Columbia for a Sunday afternoon showdown at 1 p.m. ET on ABC.
Will the Gamecocks again look like a free-wheeling and fast-paced force, turning defense into offense in the blink of eye? Can the Terrapins scrap, shoot and score enough to keep up?
Last season in College Park, Maryland had then top-ranked South Carolina on the ropes, with the undersized Terps causing the Gamecocks’ offense to stall by surrounding Aliyah Boston. But a late third quarter tussle changed the game’s tenor, agitating the Gamecocks and fueling a dominating finish. A player involved in last season’s game-changing moment—Kamilla Cardoso—should have a significant impact on Sunday’s contest.
While the magician-like MiLaysia Fulwiley stole the show in South Carolina’s win over Notre Dame, Cardoso was the key the Gamecocks’ dominance. The Fighting Irish had nothing for her as she consistently established deep, early post position, allowing her score with seeming ease on her way to a 20-point and 15-rebound double-double. She certainly looked like a future…
