The Lady Missouri Tigers could not have asked for a better situation heading into their matchup at South Carolina. The Lady Gamecocks were graciously hosting while missing two key players. One players absence has been made publicly aware for some time now, however, the other player has been suspended indefinitely.
Centerpiece absent due to a higher calling
The WNBA might be the highest level to play basketball and next greatest accomplishment for Cardoso in America. If winning one NCAA championship isn’t enough to bolster her career, perhaps a second would suffice. Cardoso can do just that when she returns after this weeks qualifier event for the Olympics while playing for the Brazilian National Team.
Star freshman absent until further notice
Sahnya Jah recent top 40 recruit in the nation out of Monteverde, Fla./Monteverde Academy Is now facing a future without basketball as a Gamecock. “Sahnya is incredibly athletic,” Staley said. “She’s fearless, competitive and a true winner. Her ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball will have all of Gamecock nation rocking in Colonial Life Arena next season.” These words of praise hailed from Coach Staley. Now 16 games into her career Sahnya has been suspended from the team indefinitely. With no knowledge given to the public, the announcement was made 20 minutes prior to tip-off.
History repeats itself, loss column absent
A star studded South Carolina team could not be slowed down even in the absence of their outstanding centerpiece. The Missouri Lady Tigers rolled in hoping to repeat the events back in December of 2021. 70-69 was the final score as the Lady Tigers ended a 43 game winning streak for the Lady Gamecocks. The loss absolutely took the college sport world by surprise. South Carolina would go on that season to the Final Four ultimately losing by 1 point to eventual crowned champions in Stanford.
Veteran production off the bench
Miliasia Fulwiley is a freshman for the South Carolina Lady gamecocks hailing from Columbia in South Carolina. As a local to South Carolina, wearing the maroon and white is even more special for Fulwiley. The biggest hardship for parents of athletes can be traveling just to watch their son or daughter play. Fortunately for Fulwiley this isn’t the case. Eager to capture her moment Milasia did just that by helping catapult the Gamecocks passed their unmatched foe. Milasia scored 19 points on 8/18 FG while shooting 1/2 from the free throw line. She also added 6 steals, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist en route of a 83-45 victory.
South Carolina gamecocks have a chance to go back to back. With seven games left on the regular season schedule, it doesn’t get easier from here. The Lady Gamecocks next game will host 11th ranked university of Connecticut. With seven games left on the regular season, including the matchup against Connecticut, Cardoso and company had a chance to go back to back winning national championships in 2023 and 2024. This year‘s women’s basketball basketball season has been one to remember. With a household name like Clark and freshman throughout the country playing like veterans, such as Hidalgo, Watkins, and now Fulwiley. We as fans get to sit back enjoy the popcorn and try to remember to close our jaws because this has been the most exciting year of college women’s basketball in a very long time.
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