South Carolina women’s basketball is one win away from returning to the Final Four to defend its national championship, but it didn’t come easy for the top-seeded Gamecocks.
Behind a big second half from MiLaysia Fulwley, the Gamecocks were able to pull out a gritty 71-67 win over No. 4 seed Maryland on Friday in the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.
The Gamecocks, winner of two of the past three national titles, are now onto their fifth consecutive Elite Eight appearance and seventh total under Staley. South Carolina is now 19-1 in its last four NCAA Tournaments.
Watch South Carolina vs Maryland on Fubo (free trial)
‘We just told each other that we have to play together and find our flow in our offense,’ Fulwley told ESPN’s Kris Budden postgame on how South Carolina was able to pull out the win despite offensive struggles throughout the entire game. ‘… We had great defense throughout the whole game. Just had to match our offense with our defensive intensity.’
Maryland appeared to be on its way to an upset over South Carolina, but five turnovers in the final 2:06 of the fourth quarter served to be the difference-making between playing in the Elite Eight and heading home to College Park, Maryland for Brenda Frese’s squad. The Gamecocks will now take on No. 2 seed Duke in the Elite Eight of the Region 2 Birmingham side of the women’s March Madness bracket on Sunday, March 30, with a trip to the Final Four and Tampa, Florida on the line.
USA TODAY Sports brought you live updates, scores, highlights and analysis throughout the game.
South Carolina vs Maryland score
South Carolina defeated Maryland 71-67 in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Birmingham, Alabama. The Gamecocks turned it up down the stretch in the third quarter on a 13-5 run, and carried it over into the fourth quarter to return to the Elite Eight for the fifth consecutive season.
Maryland vs South Carolina Sweet 16 updates
This section will be updated throughout the game.
Allie Kubek fouls out
Maryland starter Allie Kubek fouls out. She finished with 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting, including 1 of 1 from 3-point range. She added five rebounds and two steals and a block in the game.
MiLaysia Fulwiley points today
On a day when South Carolina was without Te-Hina PaoPao for much of the game, due to foul trouble, MiLaysia Fulwiley took over the Gamecocks’ offense and led them to their eighth Sweet 16 win under Dawn Staley — and did she put on a show in the second half.
The Columbia, South Carolina native finished with 23 points on 9 of 17 shooting from the field off the bench with five rebounds, three assists and a block in Friday’s win vs. Maryland. Of her 23 points, 16 came in the second half.
‘It was working for me today, proud of myself,’ Fulwiley told Budden.
Kaylene Smikle points today
Kaylene Smikle finished with a team-high 17 points for Maryland in its Sweet 16 loss to No. 1 seed South Carolina on 6 of 17 shooting. Smikle went 5 of 7 from the free-throw line in the first half.
The Rutgers transfer entered Friday’s game as Maryland’s leading scorer at 18.0 points per game this season, and is averaging an impressive 22.5 points in two NCAA Tournament games while shooting 45.4% from the field.
Chloe Kitts points today
Chloe Kitts started Friday’s Sweet 16 game off where she left off in the second round of the NCAA Tournament vs. Indiana, as the 6-foot-2 forward scored 10 points on 5 of 8 shooting for South Carolina in the first half. Kitts was also a presence inside the paint for the Gamecocks on the night, as she has 11 rebounds and a block.
She was held to just one basket from the field in the second half, which came in the fourth quarter, but hit two big free throws down the stretch for South Carolina to give her 17 points in the win.
Joyce Edwards points today
Joyce Edwards had a quiet game for South Carolina, as had six points on 2 for 6 from the field in Friday’s Sweet 16 win over No. 4 seed Maryland for the Gamecocks. She has a made basket in each half, a layup in the second quarter and a layup in the third quarter.
The All-SEC First Team Honoree entered Friday’s game leading South Carolina in scoring at 13.2 points and 4.9 rebounds through 35 games this season. She is averaging 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in two NCAA Tournament games while shooting 55% from the field.
South Carolina forces turnover
Shyanne Sellers turns over the ball for Maryland on the inbound on a miscommunication between Sellers and Sarah Te-Biasu. South Carolina gets immediately fouled and Sania Feagin heads to the free-throw line.
The origin of South Carolina’s ‘Seat Belt Gang’ celebration
South Carolina takes lead with extended run
Here comes South Carolina!
MiLaysia Fulwiley finds Te-Hina PaoPao in transition for a fast break layup off the glass to give South Carolina a 46-45 lead over Maryland in the third quarter. It’s a 7-0 run for the Gamecocks over the last 1:07, and Maryland calls a timeout on the floor.
Maryland leading South Carolina at Q3 under-five timeout
An upset watch is on in Birmingham, Alabama as No. 4 seed Maryland currently leads No. 1 seed South Carolina 43-39 at the under-five media timeout in the third quarter.
The Gamecocks are 3 of 5 to start the half from the field but have struggled to hold onto the ball, as they have four turnovers in the first 5:17 of the third quarter. Joyce Edwards has just two points for South Carolina, and Chloe Kitts hasn’t scored for the Gamecocks after scoring an early 10 points in the first quarter.
Raven Johnson steps into 3-pointer for South Carolina
The Gamecocks get a lucky roll off the rim as Raven Johnson steps into a 3-pointer from the top of the line. Johnson’s 3-pointer brings South Carolina’s deficit within one at 35-34 in the third quarter.
Maryland leads South Carolina at halftime
South Carolina’s streak of four straight Elite Eight appearances is on the line, as Maryland heads into the locker room with a 33-31 lead over the Gamecocks. It’s the first NCAA Tournament since 2017 that South Carolina has had multiple halftime deficits.
The Gamecocks offense struggled mightily in the second quarter against the Terps defense, as South Carolina went 4 of 17 from the field in the frame. One potential reason for South Carolina’s offensive struggles was Te-Hina PaoPao not being on the floor for much of the second quarter, after she picked up two early fouls in the first quarter.
Kaylene Smikle leads Maryland with nine points.
South Carolina struggling offensively
After jumping starting hot in the first quarter, South Carolina’s offense has gone cold, as the Gamecocks have not made a single field goal in over three minutes. South Carolina’s struggles from the field has allowed Maryland to take a 21-20 lead off a 3-pointer from Sarah Te-Biasu.
South Carolina leads Maryland after one quarter
South Carolina holds a one-point lead over Maryland after one-quarter of play in Birmingham at 17-16. The Gamecocks led as much as five at the 1:49 mark of the frame after a 3-pointer from Te-Hina Paopao but foul trouble and two layups inside the paint from Maryland’s Mir McLean has the Terps in this one.
MiLaysia Fulwiley has the Gamecocks last seven points after Chloe Kitts scored the first eight for Dawn Staley’s squad.
Te-Hina Paopao in foul trouble
A developing story in Birmingham is South Carolina guard Te-Hina Paopao’s foul trouble, as she picks up her second foul of the afternoon in the first quarter.
The second foul came on inside the paint as Kaylene Smikle came to the basket and drew the foul against Paopao. With Paopao on the bench for the remainder of the quarter, South Carolina will need to get its 3-point shooting from someone else on its roster.
Who is Maryland women’s basketball coach?
Brenda Frese is in her 23rd season as Maryland’s women’s basketball coach. She enters Friday’s Sweet 16 game with a 607-168 overall record.
In her 23 seasons in College Park, Maryland, Frese has led the Terrapins to 14 Big Ten conference titles, 21 NCAA Tournament bids in 23 postseasons, three Final Fours, seven Elite Eights, 12 Sweet 16s and a national championship in 2006.
The Terps are making their 15th straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament under Frese this year, and are 43-18 all-time under her in The Big Dance.
Chloe Kitts starting hot for South Carolina
Chloe Kitts has turned up the heat early in Friday’s Sweet 16 game, as the 6-foot-2 forward has scored all eight of South Carolina’s first-quarter points on 4 of 5 shooting from the field with five rebounds.
Is Shyanee Sellers related to Brad Sellers?
Yes, Shyanee Sellers is the daughter of former NBA forward Brad Sellers.
Brad Sellers, who also played collegiate basketball in the Big Ten at Wisconsin and Ohio State, was drafted in the first round of the 1986 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. In six seasons in the NBA, Brad Sellers averaged 6.3 points and shot 45.2% from the field.
South Carolina-Maryland start time announced
As noted by the Greenville News’ Lulu Kesin, the Sweet 16 matchup between No. 1 seed South Carolina and No. 4 seed Maryland will start at 4:55 p.m. ET down in Birmingham, Alabama.
NCAA women’s basketball schedule today
Here’s a look at Friday’s women’s NCAA Tournament schedule:
- Duke 47, North Carolina 38
- (1) South Carolina vs. (4) Maryland | In action on ESPN
- (2) NC State vs. (3) LSU | 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
- (1) UCLA vs. (5) Ole Miss | 10 p.m. ET on ESPN
Maryland women’s basketball record in NCAA Tournament
Maryland brings a 43-18 record in the NCAA Tournament under coach Brenda Frese. Friday’s Sweet 16 game is the 12th Sweet 16 appearance that Frese has led Maryland to, which is making its 16th appearance in The Big Dance as a four seed or higher under her.
The Terrapins are 55-30 all-time in the NCAA Tournament in program history.
Who is Shyanne Sellers?
Shyanne Sellers is the catalyst between Maryland’s offense, both as a scorer and facilitator. The three-time All-Big Ten first-team selection has scored in double figures in 25 of Maryland’s 30 games this season.
As noted by Maryland’s game notes for Friday’s Sweet 16 game vs. South Carolina, Sellers ranks No. 12 on Maryland’s all-time scoring list with 1,666 career points and is third all-time in career assists at 518. She is the only player in Maryland history to have at least 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists in a career.
Maryland women’s basketball history in Sweet 16
Maryland is making its fourth Sweet 16 appearance in the last five years on Friday vs. South Carolina.
South Carolina women’s basketball history in Sweet 16
South Carolina is making its 11th straight (12th overall) Sweet 16 appearance under Dawn Staley on Friday vs. Maryland. The Gamecocks are 7-4 in their previous 11 Sweet 16 appearances under Dawn Staley.
Chloe Kitts confident heading into matchup with Maryland
Maryland may have gotten some bulletin board material from Chloe Kitts, who all but guaranteed a win against the Terrapins. She referenced the game possibly being their last game before adding ‘it’s not gonna be.’
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Women’s March Madness championship odds
South Carolina has the second-best odds to win the national championship entering the Sweet 16 on BetMGM. Meanwhile, Maryland has the second-highest odds to do so on BetMGM, at +17500 odds.
- 1. UConn (+135)
- 2. South Carolina (+180)
- 3. UCLA (+700)
- 4. Texas (+800)
- 5. Notre Dame (+1300)
- T-6. LSU (+3500)
- T-6. Duke (+3500)
- 8. USC (+4000)
- T-9. NC State (+5000)
- T-9. TCU (+5000)
- 11. Kansas State (+8000)
- 12. Oklahoma (+12500)
- 13. Ole Miss (+15000)
- 14. Maryland (+17500)
- 15. North Carolina (+20000)
No. 1 South Carolina vs No. 4 Maryland betting odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, March 28.
- Spread: South Carolina (-17.5)
- Over/under: 150.5
- Moneyline: South Carolina (-3000) | Maryland (+1250)
South Carolina-Maryland expert predictions
Greenville News reporter Lulu Kesin’s prediction: South Carolina 77, Maryland 65
Look for a close, physical game where Staley’s team is tested but prevails with fluid offense and disciplined defense.
USA TODAY Network reporter Ehsan Kassim’s prediction: South Carolina 84, Maryland 66
The Gamecocks are not messing around in the postseason. They cruise to an easy victory as the defense swarms the Terrapins with too much pressure all game.
What time is South Carolina vs Maryland women’s basketball today?
- Date: Friday, March 28
- Time: 5 p.m. ET
South Carolina and Maryland are scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m. ET from Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala. on Friday.
What channel is South Carolina-Maryland women’s basketball today?
- Channel: ESPN
- Streaming: Women’s March Madness Live app | Fubo (free trial)
ESPN will nationally televise Friday’s Sweet 16 game between South Carolina and Maryland. Streaming options include the Women’s March Madness Live app and Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.