South Carolina Roars Back to Take Down Indiana, Advances to Sweet 16
History has a way of repeating itself, and for the second straight season, South Carolina and Indiana faced off in a tense NCAA Tournament showdown. Just like last year, the Hoosiers made it tough, but once again, the Gamecocks found a way to take control and punch their ticket to the Sweet 16.
A Familiar Battle With a Different Script
Last year’s matchup saw South Carolina dominate early, leading by as much as 22 points, only for Indiana to storm back and cut it to a two-point game in the final minute. Clutch moments from Raven Johnson and Ashlyn Watkins secured a 79-75 win for the Gamecocks.
This time, Indiana flipped the script, controlling the pace in the opening minutes. South Carolina’s offense struggled, making just four of their first 20 shots, while the Hoosiers slowly built a 19-11 lead.
“The first half, I feel like we were overthinking a lot of things,” said Te-Hina Paopao. “We were rushing a lot of shots and weren’t locked in on making layups.”
Despite the slow start, South Carolina responded with an 8-0 run in the second quarter, cutting Indiana’s lead to just one point at halftime. Rather than panic, the Gamecocks stayed confident.
“We told each other we’re good, keep it simple, make lay-ups and find the open person,” Paopao added.
A Third-Quarter Takeover
Whatever was said at halftime lit a fire under South Carolina. The Gamecocks exploded in the third quarter, outscoring Indiana 26-14 and seizing control of the game for good.
Sania Feagin made it clear: “We know how to play South Carolina basketball. We’ve been in a situation where we were down before, and we know what it takes to win.”
Chloe Kitts Sparks the Surge
Though every starter contributed to South Carolina’s comeback, it was Chloe Kitts who ignited the rally. After going scoreless in the first half, Kitts came alive, scoring seven points in the first four minutes of the third quarter.
Her mid-range jumper gave South Carolina its first lead since the first quarter, and when she drilled a three-pointer to push the lead to eight, the Colonial Life Arena erupted.
Head coach Dawn Staley had high praise for the sophomore: “We can count on Chloe. Chloe’s going to get rebounds; Chloe’s going to get you buckets. 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.”
Gamecocks Dominate Down the Stretch
Even after Indiana’s Sydney Parrish tried to stop the bleeding with a three-pointer, the Gamecocks never let up. Contributions poured in from across the roster:
- Bree Hall tallied five points, two rebounds, two assists, and a block.
- Paopao added two fast-break layups and her fourth block of the game.
- Feagin chipped in with four points early in the period.
- Raven Johnson, while not scoring, made her presence felt with a key steal.
By the time the third quarter ended, South Carolina led 51-40, and from there, they never looked back, closing out a 64-53 victory.
Survive and Advance: The Gamecocks’ Mindset Moving Forward
As South Carolina advances to the Sweet 16, they know the competition will only get tougher. The teams that capitalize on momentum swings—just like the Gamecocks did in the third quarter—will be the ones that keep dancing.
Paopao emphasized the importance of learning from these battles: “You got to experience that. Heading into the locker room, we were down one. We knew that we had 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 played.”
With South Carolina’s championship pedigree, Dawn Staley’s leadership, and a team that refuses to fold under pressure, the Gamecocks are once again proving why they are among the nation’s elite. Next stop: The Sweet 16.
