South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso performed an important position in guiding her workforce to the nationwide championship sport regardless of struggling a proper knee harm through the first Last 4 sport on Friday.
In a dominant efficiency, the Gamecocks earned a convincing 78-59 victory towards the Wolfpack, with Cardoso making a major contribution.
She confirmed off her prowess by scoring 22 factors on a powerful 10-of-12 taking pictures from the sphere, along with grabbing 11 rebounds and blocking two photographs.
After her harm within the second quarter, Cardoso confirmed resilience by returning to the court docket after halftime with a giant wrap on her injured leg.
Regardless of seen discomfort, she persevered and her mobility visibly improved as the sport progressed.
Cardoso began the fourth quarter from the bench, outfitted with a brace on prime of the sleeve, and in addition used the bike throughout breaks.
Standing 6 ft tall, the middle had already compiled a powerful 16 factors in simply quarter-hour of play, contributing considerably to South Carolina’s slim 32-31 halftime lead earlier than her unlucky harm.
Regardless of visibly struggling, she held on two extra occasions down the court docket, in the end fouling out with 1:39 left, which might possible facilitate her exit from the sport.
Shortly afterwards, she staggered off the sphere and promptly walked again to the locker room.
Acknowledged as one of many nation’s finest defensive gamers, she has considerably improved her attacking capabilities, along with her imposing measurement offering a formidable problem to opponents on either side of the pitch.
Her defensive presence alone retains opponents from driving to the rim or trying photographs within the paint, as she possesses the flexibility to change or block their makes an attempt.
Over the season, Cardoso has proven her versatility in 31 video games, with spectacular averages of 14.1 factors on 58.9% taking pictures, 9.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and a couple of.1 assists per sport.
On April 1, Cardoso introduced her determination to declare for the WNBA draft.
