South Carolina women's basketball: Five Things to Watch - #14 Maryland

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1. Kamilla Cardoso, Terp killer
South Carolina and Maryland played each other twice last season, with the Gamecocks winning both times. In both games, Kamilla Cardoso was the X factor.

Maryland typically uses a smaller, four-out lineup, and the Terrapins struggled to match up with Aliyah Boston, let alone a second post.

Cardoso had 13 points and five rebounds in thirteen minutes in an 81-56 win at Maryland. The turning point in that game was a third-quarter scuffle sparked by what Cardoso thought was a hard foul. 

She had eight points and five rebounds in 16 minutes in an 86-75 win over Maryland in the Elite Eight. In that game, Maryland was so desperate to stop her that it resorted to comical flops.

But Cardoso’s impact last season came with Aliyah Boston as the focal point. This year, Cardoso will be the focus. 

Maryland has its own 6-7 post, Hawa Doumbouya, but the freshman didn’t play in the first game. That means 6-1 graduate student Faith Masonius likely has the unenviable task of trying to contain Cardoso.

“We definitely have an edge in size so they will have to either double her or play zone,” Dawn Staley said. “They will probably mix it up, play some man or junk it up a little bit. But our focus will be getting the ball to her because she creates that mismatch.”

2. Fulwiley’s followup
MiLaysia Fulwiley was the star of the first day of the season with her behind-the-back layup. She quickly went viral, topped the SportsCenter top ten, and was featured in a halftime interview. Now that she has blown expectations sky-high, she brings the hype stateside, amazing even her teammates.

“She’s different,” Sania Feagin said. “MiLaysia is different.”

Fulwiley probably won’t top her first game highlight, but then again she might. Staley said Fulwiley plays better than she practices, but she’s been pretty good in practice. She also had a few freshman moments in her debut, times when she tried to do too much.

Fulwiley is going to want to put on a show in her home debut in front of family and friends, so it will be interesting to see if she can play under control and efficiently.

3. Forward progress
South Carolina continues to figure out the forward position. Sania Feagin started the exhibition, but then Chloe Kitts started the season-opener in Paris, but in both games, it was forward by committee.

Against Notre Dame, Kitts played 12 minutes and had seven points, two blocks, and two assists. Feagin played 13 minutes and had 12 points and four rebounds. Ashlyn Watkins played the most of the three, notching seven points, five rebounds, four blocks, and two assists in 17 minutes. 

The combined effort was very effective: 42 total minutes, 26 points, 10 rebounds, six blocks, and four assists. Feagin seemed to be okay with the arrangement

“We play really well together,” Feagin said was the biggest takeaway from the first game.

In the portion of practice Friday that was open to the media, Kitts appeared to be working with the first team again. After practice, she had long conversations with Aliyah Boston and then Staley, and Staley was encouraged by by it.

“I’m sure Chloe went up to (Aliyah) and asked her what could she do to put herself in a better position to have a career like Aliyah had,” she said.

4. FAM information 
There is a lot going on Sunday in addition to the game, so fans should plan to arrive early.

Prior to the game, South Carolina will retire the jersey of former guard Tiffany Mitchell, a two-time SEC Player of the Year. Read more about Mitchell’s jersey retirement.

The jersey retirement ceremony will begin at 12:35. After the game, the team will receive their SEC championship rings. The ceremony was supposed to be at the football game Saturday but was delayed because of the rain.

From USC:

In honor of Veteran’s Day, the University’s Veterans & Military Affairs Department is hosting the USC Veteran’s Day 5K at 2 p.m. Sunday that begins and ends near the intersection of Greene and Lincoln Streets near Colonial Life Arena. Roads around the arena will be open to traffic through tipoff but will close shortly before the race start at 2 p.m. until approximately 3 p.m. The event registration, which begins at noon, will feature a DJ in the pavilion area in front of 1801 Grille. Following the race and awards ceremony, the family-friendly atmosphere will include a band, face painting, etc., which all are welcome to attend.

The cost of parking around Colonial Life Arena has been reduced to $10. 

5. Scouting the Terrapins
South Carolina and Maryland have played every season since 2017 (excluding the pandemic year), and the early-season game has become an important measuring stick for each team. South Carolina has won four straight in the series, but where a lot of coaches might not have, Brenda Frese has continued the series because she likes the challenge

Maryland looks dramatically different from last year due to the losses of Diamond Miller and Abby Meyers. But Frese is used to reloading, and Maryland returns stars Shyanne Sellers, Lavender Briggs, and Brinae Alexander.

“They’ll probably do like what they did a lot last year and try to sag on us, and play off,” Feagin said. “Try to get our bigs in foul trouble.”

Some things don’t change, and the Terps are still a guard-oriented team. In the series history the team that controls the paint has won, and it has been an uphill battle for the Terrapins against the bigger Gamecocks.

“Transition. They push it,” Staley said. “They’re undersized, so they spread you out and knock down threes. You got drivers to try to get ahead of the possession and kick out for threes. They gang rebound. So pretty much, you know, the same team that we played in NCAA Tournament, the same style.”

The Ws
Who: #6 South Carolina (1-0) vs #14 Maryland (1-0)
When: Sunday, November 12, 1:00 ET
Where: Colonial Life Arena
Watch: ABC

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