The SEC Women's Tournament brought excitement and an economic boost to Greenville, over the weekend. The South Carolina Gamecocks took the SEC Title, but they were in for a fight in more ways than one.
Unbeaten and top ranked South Carolina won three games in as many days, but was not dominant in doing so. They downed Texas A&M Friday, 79-68. In Saturday's Semifinals South Carolina was on the brink of dropping its 1st game of the season, but Center Kamilla Cardoso banked in a three-pointer at the buzzer to give them a 64-73 win over Tennesee. It marked the 1st ever made three in her college career.
That thrilling win set up a showdown in Sunday's SEC Title game between #1 and #8 LSU. South Carolina would win the game 79-72. Freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley had a game high 24 to lead the way.
There were late game fireworks in this one. A scuffle broke out between the two teams in the closing minutes after Fulwiley was grabbed by an LSU player. An LSU player bumped a Gamecock player and was then pushed to the ground by another South Carolina player.
Tempers flared and people in the stands tried to get involved in the "dust-up". One fan identified as 24 year old Trayron Milton of Georgia, the brother of an LSU player reportedly injured an employee, as he made his way from the stands to the floor. Milton was quickly taken into police custody and was later booked at the Greenville County Detention Center.
When the dust settled it was South Carolina winning the SEC Title. It marks back-to back SEC Titles, the third in four years and seven in the last nine years for the program. SC is now 33-0, they are expected to be the #1 overall seed in the NCAA Women's Tournament, which gets into full swing March 22nd.