ESPN College GameDay appropriately will be in Columbia on Sunday afternoon, ready to showcase and celebrate the excellence of No. 1 South Carolina (24-0, 11-0) as they take on Georgia (11-13, 2-9). Coverage begins at 12 p.m. ET on ABC, with tip off scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
On Thursday night, Tennessee made it tough on South Carolina. But, the Gamecocks, as always, were tougher.
Making just 40 percent of their field goal attempts, it was South Carolina’s second-worst shooting performance of the season. However, this season’s sharpshooting Gamecocks would not be felled by an off night; instead, they did what every great Dawn Staley team has done—dominate the paint. South Carolina corralled offensive rebounds, cashed in second-chance points and scored 48 of their 66 points in the paint. And when the fourth quarter arrived on Rocky Top, South Carolina took it to another level, dialing up their defense and attention to detail to hold Tennessee to just seven points and secure the 66-55 win.
Senior center Kamilla Cardoso, back after missing two games while trying to help Brazil qualify for the Olympics, powered the Gamecocks with a double-double 18 points and 10 rebounds, including six offensive boards.
Sophomore forward Ashlyn Watkins, who starred in Cardoso’s…
