- Kamilla Cardoso had only attempted one long shot in her career
- Cardoso played in front of his mother and sister who came from Brazil
- DailyMail.com provides the latest international sports news.
South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso hit a wild, desperation shot at the buzzer Saturday to beat Tennessee, as her first 3-pointer rescued a 74-73 victory and kept her team’s perfect season alive.
With South Carolina’s top pick, Te-Hina Paopao, held back by the Lady Vols, Cardoso left herself open and made her opponents pay.
Cardoso had only attempted one long-range shot in his career as a Syracuse freshman before this.
“I was very happy that my teammates believed in me,” Cardoso said afterward.
“I didn’t have the best game I could have, I was out all night. “I was happy to be able to make the shot and take them to the final.”
South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso hits the buzzer to beat the Tennessee Lady Vols
Cardoso was mobbed by her cheerful teammates as the large South Carolina crowd — the campus is just a 100-mile drive from Greenville Stadium (where the game was played) — cheered in celebration.
Cardoso was playing in front of her mother and sister, who came from Brazil to celebrate Senior Day with her last weekend.
This week was his first chance to see her perform in person since he left the country at age 15.
With the win, the Gamecocks (31-0) advance to their ninth tournament final in the last 10 seasons and will seek their eighth title in that span against No. 8 LSU, which beat Mississippi.
Cardoso was mobbed by her cheerful teammates when she scored her first triple.
The Gamecocks (31-0) had blown a 23-point lead and trailed the Lady Vols (19-12) 73-71 with 1.1 seconds left.
The Lady Vols had a chance to extend the lead with three seconds left, but Jasmine Powell, a 78 percent free throw shooter, missed both attempts to give South Carolina a chance.
“I just hate that for them,” Tennessee coach Kellie Harper said, close to tears when talking about the loss.
South Carolina secured the rebound and, with no timeouts remaining, went up the floor. Tennessee, not yet in the free throw bonus, fouled South Carolina near midcourt with 1.1 seconds left setting up the fantastic finish.
