Full Recap: Chloe Kitts is CLUTCH as South Carolina Powers Past Duke in the Elite Eight

Girl, what? Go get the ball.

Those are the words South Carolina PG Ta-hina Paopao said to Chloe Kitts, according to The Athletics’ Cameron Teague Robinson, shortly after the team left the huddle in the fourth. All game long, the Gamecocks had held their own against the Blue Devils, and on the last offensive possession, head coach Dawn Staley had a vision: give her 6-2 forward the rock.

Simple as that.

As they all walked back on to the floor, Kitts asked her PG to take the reins, and that’s when Paopao reminded Kitts who she is. The 6-2 forward is the latest post player prodigy that’s emerged into a star under Dawn Staley, and after getting fouled, she had the chance to extend the Gamecocks lead and take them to the Final Four…

This is just a glimpse of went down on Sunday night against the Gamecocks and the Blue Devils in a must-see TV Elite Eight matchup. As we gear up for the rest of the tourney, here’s a look back at how South Carolina sealed the deal and are powering their way to the Final Four.

The No.1 Gamecocks have been tested time and time again throughout the Big Dance, most recently against Maryland, but have yet to falter. Their matchup against the Blue Devils was their biggest challenge yet, though you wouldn’t have known from the first quarter. 

SC meant business in the first: SC forward Sania Feagin, who had six points and one block, battled it out in the post against Duke forward Toby Fournier (7 points and a block).

The Gamecock’s offense had a solid showing, putting up 16 but their defense is what really gave them the boost, holding Duke to just 10.

SC’s offense kept at it up until about the halfway mark of the second quarter, when Duke started to chip away at the 11 point lead, going on an 8-1 run to close out the second. 

What looked like the start of a runaway for the Gamecocks turned into a game very quickly as the Devils cut SC’s lead to just four points going into the second half. 

It was Reigan Richardson’s three that gave them Duke their first lead of the game. The Blue Devils turned up their intensity, too, with a big-time block from Fournier.

Though Duke was in control for the majority of the third, South Carolina was never far behind. Finishing the last couple minutes going bucket for bucket, it was Ashlon Jackson’s step back three that gave them a 42-38 lead going into the fourth. 

The back and forth between Fouriner and Feagin continued as Fouriner got free off a pick and roll and finished through contact to tie it back up at 46 to which Feagan responded with a fadeaway jumper to put SC back on top. South Carolina had outscored Duke, 12-4, at that point in the fourth. 

The last two minutes both teams traded some tough buckets and though South Carolina maintained a lead, Duke was never down by more than four points. With a minute to go, Duke’s Oluchi Okananwa drove baseline for a much needed two making it a two point game. 

South Carolina came down with 55.3 seconds on the clock looking to run the clock and make a play, but was unable to secure a bucket. The shot went up and everyone on the floor boxed out. The next possession could make or break either season. 

The ball got knocked out of bounds with 30 seconds left and Duke head coach Kara Lawson decided to challenge in hopes of overturning the call and giving her team the extra possession. After review, the ball remained South Carolina’s. 

Looking for options to take the ball out underneath, Ashlon Jackson drew an offensive foul on Bree Hall, giving the possession up to Duke before the ball was even in bounds. 

The Blue Devils ran through a couple different sets before the SC defense was too much to handle, leaving Ashlon Jackson to force a triple that was no good. A foul was called against Duke on the box out with just 6.4 on the clock, South Carolina ball. 

SC’s Head coach Dawn Staley called a timeout to advance the ball to their sideline while Duke thought Hall was going to be shooting. With all the Blue Devils lined up for free throws, Sc was able to inbound easily, with Duke scrambling to foul. 

It was SC’s Chloe Kitts that was sent to the line with the opportunity to get the game out of striking distance. She buried both FTs, securing a four point lead and punching South Carolina’s ticket to the Final Four. 

“It feels amazing because I feel like I worked so hard, and my process is different,” she said per The Athletic. “I’m just so thankful to be in that position at the end of the game to go to the Final Four,” Kitts said.

You couldn’t have asked for a better ending for the Gamecocks. Kitts led her squad with 14 points and four rebounds, earning Birmingham Regional MVP.

South Carolina is headed to their fifth straight Final Four and will face the winner of TCU and Texas.

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