Breaking:Hard To Take But South Carolina Top Star To Miss NCAA Finals Against Iowa.
South Carolina star center Kamilla Cardoso briefly exited the Gamecocks’ 78-59 win over North Carolina State in the Final Four with a right leg injury.
The scare did little to slow Cardoso down. The 6-foot-7 player dominated down low, finishing with 22 points and 11 rebounds in 23 minutes as the unbeaten Gamecocks advanced to their second national title game in three years.
South Carolina will play Iowa on Sunday, and Cardoso’s health could be a concern. She helped the Gamecocks dominate the third quarter but didn’t play in the fourth.
Cardoso scored 12 straight points in the second quarter and was driving toward the basket late in the period when she tumbled to the floor. She got up and limped down the floor before committing a foul at the other end with 1:39 left. She was replaced by Ashlyn Watkins.
Cardoso went back to the training room to be evaluated. She returned at the start of the second half, having replaced a white sleeve on her right leg with a black one.
South Carolina took off in the third quarter with Cardoso back on the floor. The Gamecocks outscored the Wolfpack 29-6 in the period.