COLUMBIA, S.C. — Even without two starters, No. 1 South Carolina looked like a well-oiled machine in its NCAA Tournament opener.
Led by a career high-tying 21 points and 13 rebounds from Chloe Kitts, the top-seeded Gamecocks never took their foot off the gas in a 91-39 win over 16th-seeded Presbyterian on Friday.
“We were happy to get out there and knock some rust off,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. “Presbyterian made us adjust. We got some really good play.”
Undefeated South Carolina (33-0) will face No. 8 North Carolina on Sunday for the chance to go to the Sweet 16 for the 10th straight time. The Gamecocks recorded a 65-58 win over the Tar Heels on Nov. 30 in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Kitts shot a perfect 9-of-9 from the floor in 26 minutes off the bench. Te-Hina Paopao had 18 points, MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 17, Sania Feagin added 12, and Raven Johnson chipped in 11 for South Carolina.
“I feel like it was important for my confidence,” Kitts said of her game.
Paige Kindseth and Tilda Sjokvist powered Presbyterian (21-15) with nine points apiece.
AP Second Team All-American Kamilla Cardoso missed the game due to a one-game suspension from being assessed with a fighting penalty in the Gamecocks’ SEC championship victory over LSU. And South Carolina held guard Bree Hall out of the game for what the team called “precautionary reasons.” Staley said she was “not concerned” about Hall’s status going forward.
But Cardoso and Hall missing from the starting lineup didn’t matter. The Gamecocks never trailed against the Blue Hose after jumping out to a 27-10 lead.
South Carolina dominated in nearly every facet of the game. The Gamecocks outrebounded the Blue Hose 44-27, outscored them in the paint (32-22), second-chance points (18-3) and in bench points (43-8). South Carolina shot 37.5 percent from 3-point land while holding the Blue Hose to 16.7 percent from beyond the arc.
Presbyterian scored just two points in the fourth quarter.
“Last time we played them, they rebounded very well,” Kitts said of the upcoming game against UNC. “We just got to play together and we’ll be fine.”
–Mitchell Northam, Field Level Media