Indiana gave South Carolina a hard time for the second straight year. A big third quarter vaulted the Gamecocks to victory

History sure finds a way to repeat itself. On Sunday, South Carolina and Indiana faced off in an NCAA Tournament game for the second time in as many seasons.

Last year, the Gamecocks led for much of the contest, extending their advantage to as much as 22 points early in the third quarter. The Hoosiers nearly came all the way back, with a late bucket from Mackenzie Holmes making it a two-point game with just over a minute remaining. A clutch three-pointer from Raven Johnson, a block from Ashlyn Watkins and some made free throws along the way helped South Carolina clinch a 79-75 win in the Sweet 16.

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Indiana carried that momentum into this year’s meeting and made things difficult from the beginning. Over the first 13 minutes of the game, the Gamecocks struggled offensively, making just four of their first 20 field goal attempts. The Hoosiers didn’t shoot much better (7-20) during that time frame, but they had grown their lead to 19-11.

“The first half, I feel like we were over thinking a lot of things. We weren’t keeping it simple,” Te-Hina Paopao said. “We were rushing a lot of shots and weren’t locked in on making lay-ups.”

South Carolina would eventually go on a 8-0 scoring run in the second quarter to cut Indiana’s lead to two. The Hoosiers’ advantage would decrease decrease to just one point before halftime.

But the Gamecocks didn’t feel the need to change anything as it headed into the halftime break.

“We told each other we’re good, keep it simple, make lay-ups and find the open person,” Paopao said.

That late stretch of offense served as a sign of what was to come for South Carolina. During the third quarter, a sleeping giant had finally woken up. The Gamecocks outscored Indiana 26-14 in the period, setting them on a path to eventually win 64-53.

“We know how to play South Carolina basketball,” Sania Feagin said. “We’ve been in a situation where we were down before, and we know what it takes to win.”

Each member of South Carolina’s starting lineup played a valuable part in the team’s early third-quarter rally, but it was Chloe Kitts who especially made her presence felt. Kitts’ made jump shot to open scoring in the period gave the Gamecocks their first lead since the 3:32 mark of the first quarter.

After going scoreless in the first half, she finished the third quarter with seven points, all of which were scored in the opening four minutes. A made shot from behind the arc, which pushed South Carolina’s lead to eight points, resulted in a loud roar from the Colonial Life Arena crowd.

“We can count on Chloe. Chloe’s going to get rebounds; Chloe’s going to get you buckets,” Dawn Staley said. “She wants the ball in her hands. She wants to be a big play-maker for us, and she’s got the experience to prove it.”

Sydney Parrish immediately responded with a three-pointer, prompting a timeout called by Indiana head coach Teri Moren. That stoppage didn’t stop the bleeding for Indiana as the Gamecocks kept building on their lead. And as the game went along, more South Carolina players joined in on the fun.

Bree Hall contributed five points on two made baskets, two rebounds, two assists and one block. Paopao made two fast-break layups, in addition to blocking one shot – her fourth of the game. Feagin scored four early points in the period. And while Johnson did not put points on the scoreboard, she did pick up one steal.

By the time the third-quarter buzzer sounded, the Gamecocks had regained control of the game. South Carolina lead 51-40 with 10 minutes left, and it didn’t give an inch the rest of the way.

As the Gamecocks move on to the Sweet 16, the margins – of victory and for error – will only get smaller. In many cases, the team that puts together more scoring runs like that of South Carolina’s third quarter will be the one that keeps on dancing.

Paopao said knowing how to battle from behind will grow in importance as the team progresses through the NCAA Tournament.

“You got to experience that,” Paopao said. “Heading into the locker room, we were down one. We knew that we had a higher standards for ourselves, and we knew that we could play better. So, knowing that we need to lock in, make layups, make shots and get stops on defense – and just keep the game simple… When we keep it simple, great basketball is playing.”

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