KNOXVILLE — Kamilla Cardoso had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead the top-ranked South Carolina women’s basketball team past upset-minded Tennessee on Thursday night, 66-55.
Cardoso, a 6-foot-7 senior who had missed the Gamecocks’ two previous games while playing for Brazil in an Olympic qualifying tournament, also had three blocks, three assists and a steal in her 29 minutes on the court. A first-year starter for South Carolina who backed up Aliyah Boston the past two seasons after beginning her collegiate career at Syracuse, Cardoso prepped at Chattanooga’s Hamilton Heights Christian Academy.
Ashlyn Watkins added 14 points, 10 rebounds and four steals for South Carolina (24-0, 11-0 Southeastern Conference), and Raven Johnson had 15 rebounds as the Gamecocks finished with a 49-42 advantage on the glass.
“Getting Kamilla the ball was so important,” Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said of Cardoso, who scored 11 points in the second half. “We don’t win the game without Kamilla tonight.”
Rickea Jackson scored 19 points while playing a game-high 38 minutes to pace Tennessee (15-9, 8-4), Sara Puckett added 15 points and Jasmine Powell had 12. Powell had eight rebounds and Jackson grabbed seven.