GREENVILLE, S.C. — South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley knew her first option for a winning shot from outside, 5-foot-9 guard Te-Hina Paopao, would be bottled up by Tennessee.
So she demanded from the sideline that the team's leading scorer and rebounder, the significantly taller Kamilla Cardoso (6-7), do what she'd been reluctant to her whole career: "Shoot it!"
Cardoso finally listened, banking home a desperation shot at the final buzzer for the senior's first 3-pointer of her college career to preserve top-ranked South Carolina's perfect record with a 74-73 win over the fifth-seeded Lady Volunteers in the Southeastern Conference tournament semifinals Saturday at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
"I added a couple more words that I can't mention," Staley said about her order to Cardoso, a former prep standout for Chattanooga's Hamilton Heights Christian Academy who before Saturday had attempted one long-range shot at this level — when she was a freshman at Syracuse.
"Coach told Kamilla to shoot the ball, and Kamilla shoots the ball with confidence," said point guard Raven Johnson, who passed in to Cardoso at the top of the key.
The Gamecocks (31-0) had blown a 23-point lead and trailed the Lady Vols (19-12) 73-71 with 1.1 seconds left.
"I knew with the players we had on the floor, pretty much the only person who was going to be open was Kamilla," Staley said. "So I just told Raven to get the ball to Kamilla. And I told Kamilla, 'Hey, pass it to Paopao,' and then at the last second, I was like, 'Kamilla, shoot it.'"
Cardoso was mobbed by her joyous teammates as the large South Carolina crowd — the campus is only about a 100-mile drive from the Greenville arena — cheered in celebration.
"I was very happy my teammates believed in me," Cardoso said. "I didn't have best game I could have, off all night. I was happy I could make the shot and take them to the finals."
Cardoso was playing in front of her mom and sister, who came up from Brazil to celebrate senior day with her last weekend in Columbia, which included the Gamecocks beating Tennessee to complete a regular-season sweep. That was their first chance to see her play in person since she left the country at age 15.
The Gamecocks are in the SEC final for the ninth time in a 10-season stretch and will look for their eighth title in that span when they face eighth-ranked, second-seeded LSU with a 3 p.m. tipoff Sunday. ESPN will televise the game.
Tennessee's Rickea Jackson scored 22 points, including 19 in the final two quarters, as the Lady Vols fought back from 35-12 down late in the second quarter. Her putback basket with 25 seconds left gave them their first lead of the game.
The Lady Vols had the chance to extend the lead with three seconds left, but Jasmine Powell, a 78% shooter at the foul line, missed a pair of free throws to give South Carolina a chance.
"I just hate that for them," said Tennessee coach Kellie Harper, on the verge of tears talking about the loss — her team's seventh in a row to South Carolina, including last year's SEC championship contest.
The Gamecocks secured the rebound, and with no timeouts left, went up the floor. Tennessee, which wasn't in the bonus yet for free throws, fouled South Carolina near midcourt with 1.1 seconds left, setting up the fantastic finish.
Jewel Spear added 21 points as the only other scorer in double figures for the Lady Vols, and Jackson rounded out her performance with team highs of nine rebounds and eight assists. Tamari Key had four blocks.
Cardoso and MiLaysia Fulwiley had 13 points apiece, with Cardoso blocking three shots, and Johnson scored 11 with team highs of seven rebounds and four assists.
Things could not have started any better for South Carolina — or any worse for the Lady Vols, who pushed the Gamecocks in every meeting this season but never could break through.
The Gamecocks opened up a 13-0 lead while Tennessee struggled to hit anything, missing its first 10 shots. South Carolina, behind the dynamic Fulwiley, eventually led 35-12 and looked it would put things away by halftime.
However, the Lady Vols finished the second quarter on an 11-1 run to cut the 23-point deficit to 36-23 at the break.
It got even more interesting late.
AP photo by Chris Carlson / Tennessee guards Sara Puckett, left, and Jasmine Powell leave the court after the Lady Vols' loss to No. 1 South Carolina in an SEC semifinal Saturday in Greenville, S.C.LSU 75, Ole Miss 67
Angel Reese said LSU will be ready for South Carolina, no matter what adversity the Tigers must overcome.
The latest for the reigning national champions came when guard Last-Tear Poa, already playing in place of injured freshman Mikaylah Williams, was taken off the court on a stretcher after hitting her head hard against the court behind the basket in the fourth quarter of Saturday's second SEC semifinal.
Poa was taken to St. Francis Hospital, and LSU coach Kim Mulkey said she was told Poa's scan came back clean and she had movement in her limbs. LSU also said Poa was diagnosed with a concussion but was expected to be released.
"So that's wonderful news," Mulkey said.
Reese, who finished with 21 points and 17 rebounds, helped LSU (28-4) break away after the Rebels (22-8) had cut an 11-point deficit to 52-51 late in the third quarter. Reese scored her team's next six points.
"It's not all about me, but I'll do whatever it takes to win," Reese said.
That includes playing on a sore ankle — "My ankle is as big as a tennis ball right now," Reese said — that she twisted in Friday's quarterfinal win over Auburn. But it didn't stop her from competing against Ole Miss and won't keep her out of a rematch with the undefeated Gamecocks.
"But I'm going to do whatever it takes and go out there and fight and fight and fight," she said. "And tonight I'm going to rest up, and then I'm going to do it again."
South Carolina trailed by 11 at LSU earlier this season before winning 76-70 in overtime. It was the team's closest call before Saturday's dramatic finish against Tennessee.
Mulkey said reaching the SEC final was a goal, something LSU last accomplished in 2012. The Tigers have not won the league tournament since 2003.
"I think you're going to see two teams that are tired," Mulkey said. "They had to play hard to win today. We had to play hard. It may not be a pretty game, who knows? But it is two of the most recognizable teams in the country."
Flau'jae Johnson matched Reese with 21 points for LSU and Aneesah Morrow had 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Madison Scott led Ole Miss with 22 points, Marquesha Davis added 21 and Kennedy Todd-Williams had 16.
Rebels coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said when the game was on the line, the Tigers rose up and made the winning plays.
"When it really came down to coming down, the reigning national champions reared their heads," she said.
McPhee-McCuin also said Poa got hurt because of college basketball rules regarding the call of a block or a charge that allow defenders to move in front of those on offense to draw a charge. The rule lets players take chances that can lead to injuries like Poa's.
"There needs to be a rule, and then people won't slide under people," she said. "And if we're trying to protect players, then why don't we make a rule? Because that was dangerous, and she was trying to make a play."
Poa got up with help and was slowly being assisted to the team's bench, but she stopped and was placed flat on the floor while paramedics came out with the stretcher.
LSU players huddled together on the sideline to pray while fans chanted "Poa."
"The kid took quite a lick on the back of her head," Mulkey said. "I did not see it. I saw it on the film just a minute ago, and I wouldn't even look at it."
Mulkey said Poa seemed a little bit "unresponsive."
"She could squeeze your hand, lightly," Mulkey said. "She'd tell you she could feel her legs, but she really couldn't articulate good enough for you not to be afraid."
Poa is a junior from Australia who has started 10 games this season. She had five points in 17 minutes against the Rebels.
Mulkey communicated with Poa's family in Australia and was headed to the hospital to be with the player.