Bowling Green vs No. 1 South Carolina | NCAA Women’s Basketball | 12.19.23

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (AP) — Bowling Green vs South Carolina

Chloe Kitts scored a career-best 21 points, Bree Hall added 18 and No. 1 South Carolina quickly ended any thoughts Bowling Green may have had of pulling off a historic upset, rolling to a 93-62 win Tuesday night.

Hall made three 3-pointers and the Gamecocks (11-0) hit their first 10 shots while opening an 18-point lead in the first quarter against the Falcons (6-3), who were facing the nation’s top-ranked team for the first time in school history.

It was more than an average non-conference game for South Carolina as the matchup was also a reunion with first-year Bowling Green coach Fred Chmiel, an assistant with the Gamecocks for eight seasons under Dawn Staley.

While Chmiel was at South Carolina, the Gamecocks went 247-32, developed numerous All-Americans and won national championships in 2017 and 2022. Chmiel’s relationship with Staley stretches back nearly 20 years when he was an assistant for the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting and she was their best player.

South Carolina star center Kamilla Cardoso scored 11 before leaving in the fourth quarter with a lower leg injury that didn’t appear serious.

Morgan Sharps made seven 3-pointers and scored 25 to lead Bowling Green.

Chmiel knew what his team was in for, and the Gamecocks, coming off a 70-point win over Presbyterian, showed why they’re a unanimous No. 1 in the AP poll.

Hall, a junior from Dayton, Ohio, set the tone with her outside shooting and the Gamecocks made their first five 3s before a long miss drew a roar from the sellout crowd of 4,195 fans inside The Stroh Center on BG’s campus.

South Carolina then ramped up its defensive intensity in the second quarter, went on an 18-4 tear and took total control. The Gamecocks led by 21 at halftime, pushed it to 31 after three and 87-47 in the fourth.

Notables

The Gamecock offense got off to a hot start, going 10-for-10 from the field, including five 3-pointers within the first five minutes, and their defensive effort helped build a 13-point lead just midway through the opening quarter.
South Carolina finished the first half 8-for-12 from behind the arc, rounding out the game shooting 56.3 percent, making it the fourth game this season shooting at least 50.0 percent from the three.
South Carolina dominated in the paint, outscoring the Falcons 48-16.
Chloe Kitts had a career night, finishing with 21 points to lead the team in scoring for the first time in her career. She shot 83.3 percent (10-for12) from the field, in addition to her six boards, block, and steal.
Bree Hall tied her career high of 18 points after starting out 3-for-3 from behind the arc, putting up half her points in just the first 10 minutes.
Te-Hina Paopao continued her 10-game streak of knocking down at least two 3s per game, collecting all 12 of her points from long range (4-for-6). She handed out six of the Gamecocks’ 21 assists on the night as well.

From the stro center in Bowling Green Ohio we have a Tuesday night Mid-American Conference versus SEC matchup as the Bowling Green Falcons welcome in the number one ranked South Carolina Gamecocks is the senior from Cincinnati Ohio Lexi Fleming one of the top defenders in the Mid-American Conference really put her skills on

Display in that game against Iowa when she went for 24 points seven rebounds and three Steals and Beyond being a great defender she’s an extremely Dynamic offensive player she takes great care of the basketball very un unselfish shoots a high percentage from both two and three and man can she attack the rim

For her size it’s very impressive what she’s able to do offensively but tonight is going to be a completely different challenge against the trees from South Carolina size will without a doubt be a factor in this game when you’re starting with South Carolina’s Camila Cardoza 6’7 senior runs the floor very well averages

A double double and with a top shot blockers in the nation and you love what Cardoza brings to the table more so than just what she does on the floor floor it’s what she does in terms of her leadership she waited her turn behind Aaliyah Boston you see her now really

Shining as she steps into the Limelight for this South Carolina team and she’s doing great she’s getting other players involved she has a wonderful job around the hoop a great rebounder a great shot blocker as you said and as she goes this South Carolina team goes but man are

They deep they can get everybody involved a great team overall and that’s why they’re ranked number one in the country one of the most familiar faces in women’s college basketball da Staley 16th season as a head coach how awesome is it that she comes back here with

Coach J to play his Bowling Green Falcons in his first year as a head coach after all the time he put in the South Carolina program and the temple program before that with Coach S as she was coming up through the ranks in terms of coaching you got to love what she’s

Doing with her Squad got to love what she does for her staff a real staple of the game and then you see there coach J South Carolina has won 22 consecutive Road [Applause] games enen Green’s last time out was a win down at right State front of a great

Crowd there opening possession for the Gamecocks South Carolina one of the top scoring teams in the nation averaging better than 90 points a game nice high low action easy one down low to get it started for kloe kits and you see right there the unselfishness from cardoso not

Only is she a great scorer inside but a wonderful passer great hands as we said in the open sixth wom of the year last year for the nation Alexi Fleming dealing with that size tried the reverse and back comes powpow looking inside immediately for cardoo the catch and score that took

About 5 Seconds yeah there’s not a whole lot you can do for 6’7 that’s about 2T Away From the Block she found a great spot there wonderful pass inside easy bucket liia Hill Corner three is good for Liv Hill that is a part of her game that she has improved upon throughout

Her time of at Bowling Green she is now five out of 10 from distance this season and a three at the other end a quick answer from Bri Hall one of the players you cannot leave open for South Carolina on the perimeter you absolutely not cannot and she’s been coming on as of

Late especially from three but if you’re Bowling Green got to change something up on the defensive end way too easy a looks early in this one to survive at the beginning of this game and I think defensively you’re going to have to switch it up get out of this first

Quarter be in the game see what you can do after those two makes hill now N Out of 15 at charity stripe this season and a two-point ball game about a minute and a half in Hall again opposite corner this got a large contingent there behind the South Carolina bench cheering her on

And what a start re Hall is one of the reasons why as Basco Don stale during her time here at South Carolina is having one of her best three-point shooting teams they’re knocking down about seven threes a game at 40% beyond that she’s a heck of a

Recruiter stalion who would not want to play for one of the Legends in the women’s game p got a little bit of look for her offense and find her teammates and off the back rim rebounded by cardoo underneath if they play a lot of players everybody can score and so far they’ve

Been perfect offensively in this game green offensively on the season averaging almost 70 points a game Falcons were the top scoring teams in the Mid-American Conference there’s bowler hangs a little bit of contact there but not enough to draw a whistle and out and running is South

Carolina powpow looks inside now goes to Kits kits goes right to work against Zeke in Baseline off glass and good chance of a three-point play Big Time contributor young Talent on this squad so far has really showed up B and green so far shooting 40% from the field

Here’s paig ker freshman from hestad Falls she’s having a great freshman here but you’d think if Bowling Green wants to get into this one it’s going to happen have to be through Fleming to the corner he’ll hit from there before this time she’s blocked as kit got her fingertips on it South

Carolina the Top Shot blocking team in the country and they turn the block into triple just talk about the unselfishness and the dynamic offense that South Carolina has still perfect over halfway through this first quarter eight for eight from the field and absolutely blitzed Presbyterian the

Other night to a 21-point lead after one they look well on their way early in this one bing green desperately needs an answer on the offensive end and on the defensive end three more Superstars off their bench that are ready to go and they just come at you and win South

Carolina’s bench averages 36 Here Comes full [Applause] Wy look inside Ashlin Watkins giving it up Walker contact that’s going to be two for sakima Walker and Walker what a great juk go ball at Northwest Florida she was the jukeo player of the year not only offensively as a threat but defensively

They love to get after it and that is something that Robin freck also focused on during her time here as the head coach at Bowling Green and Fred chamil wants to continue Robin freck now the head coach at Michigan State as Erica Porter off that pump fake is fou the

Starting lineup I think if they’re going to make any kind of run in this game it’s the size on the season averaging seven and half and sometimes it’s just an adjustment in terms of style getting used to a new coach figuring out your place on a team and if coming off the

Bench works best for Porter and helping this team that’s what you got to do and Hall’s got another that Bing green you’re trying to pack the Lane right now but in giving up the three-pointers that South Carolina has been perfect on powpow great pass up ahead to F Wy who

Will be challenged F Wy actually looked for a foul at the end of that Morgan Sharps at the end catch and shoot got it Morgan sharps under three minutes to play first quarter right back out to Walker just above the free throw line can’t connect he’s a star at nework high

School just outside of Columbus Ohio made a couple trips to the final four underneath Sharps the porter for the high percentage line more Dynamic and more difficult to defend especially on the perimeter you saw the beneficiary there in Porter to the corner full Wy tries a

Three too much on it unable to draw Iron and the Bowling Green faithful will let her know about it up ahead to alasco Bing green does not have [Applause] numbers out to Sharps the catch and shoot got it again Fleming’s first clean look of the evening Raven Johnson working around

Watkins pulls up came up short and time expires here in the first as South Carolina puts up 28 points in the first 10 minutes but Bing green not going away Falcons down 10 going to the second [Applause] quarter the Chloe kits off the glass to get things started for South Carolina here

In quarter number two kits with nine of South Carolina’s 30 points he Bowling Green shooting 41% in that first quarter having to work for everything Brandon but the ball movement has been effective it has in really the latter half of that first quarter BG really started to find something offensively with Sharps Sharps

Had a pretty good look there offensive rebound for clerkley that is really impressive to get that offensive board between the size of South Carolina understands her role and that’s super important when you come off the bench and Sharps didn’t miss it by much cross score pass to hall Hall

Drives immediately left hand good looking for her overall offensive skill to continue to develop as she continues on with Bowling Green but we likes it what she does on the glass and I think right now that’s what Bowling Green needs inside Fleming gets the look Lexi Fleming scoreless in this

One one or two Defenders running out at her if not already a hand in her face and you’d think at some point the first is going to fall and then Lexi Fleming will really get herself going cardo had great position and she gets that Deep South Dakota State she’s not the kind of

Player who’s going to drop 40 on you but man she makes the 20 count Raven Johnson the steel and scor knee injury in her freshman season playing in just two games comes back to play in all but one last season and had the best assist to turnover ratio by his South Carolina

Freshman she super efficient very unselfish plays with a high motor as well you got to love that as a coach Morgan Sharps gets her first points inside the arc give her eight for the ball game 16-point game almost Midway through the second powpow wide open in the

Corner they were in that 13-1 look early in the game and they were giving up Corner threes and those High Point threes and you see again South Carolina read the defense well used to seeing some Zone defenses throughout the year South Carolina forced to turn over Lexi

Fleming not giving up on the play without fouling against the must more bigger physical powpow kits against Hill fading away beautiful touch 11 points in each of the last two games she’s got 11 in this one after that last bucket well that was about as old school a move as you’ll see

There a nice little touch Fade Away one-hander Sharps finds two more around the paint Sharps not just the danger from three has dished and has drove so far in this one for bowling Green speaking of dangers from three to be aware of Hall at this point has been perfect from

Three in this one now the takeaway and all the way for the as Basco being guarded by kits got to get a shot up time winding down and Bain able to get she’s had a great start to her career no by the way Zia cook played her high school ball at

Rogers about 20 minutes from Bowling Green now a member of the Los Angeles Sparks playing for head coach Kurt Miller who we will hear from at halftime Lexi Fleming along the Baseline not only you know other division one colleges but then moving on to the pro ranks as well a true

Spokesman for Bowling Green Kurt Miller has been the head coach in the WNBA hins able to finish over the top of Porta putting around the bench foul 2022 just come off the bench in every game averaging 7 minutes a game draining the three Morgan she’s got a baker’s

Dozen in this first half definitely one of the highlights for B Green has been the offensive play of Sharps Brandon going back to that last three there she had missed her last few after coming in hot off the bench we’re back to playing as we should be set up the screen for

Hill Fleming right wing we’ll get it right back from zekin and Hall back on Fleming and that’s been tough for Fleming and that has been her matchup players that are offensively very Dynamic but see three Falcons in the top 10 in the Mid-American Conference in free throw kind to elevate and get to

The right to get around the outstretched hand of cardos you think 6′ s outstretched hand probably reaching about 7 ft tall powpow drains the three straight away nine points in the first half to go along with five assists and a couple of boards ker will heave from

Midcourt 52 2 31 your score after 20 minutes of play here inside the stro center B and green trying to hold their own in their home floor Amy Velasco beat the shot clock off the glass Bri Hall she has scored inside and out nice finish there with the left

Hand and put in the hands of Sharps one of her host for the WNBA draft and she brought home number one and you think whoever gets Caitlyn Clark is getting such a dynamic playm and an absolute scoring Phenom and one there from kits to cardoso and regardless of who hot who

Things didn’t work out the way she would have hoped and ends up here at Bowling Green work out very well for Fleming you saw the flare screen great set look by Bowling Green to get their Superstar going and to be clear for Paige ker things change ker going to use the

Screen out to the corner Hill gets an open look Olivia Hill great ball movement make the extra pass she had a look from the corner but Hill wide open at the top of the key cans it for Bowling Green Hill is two for three Beyond The Arc and any combination that

You’ve gone low high high low with those two there’s just been no answer for Bowling Green for kits she now has 13 points just look at this team and you you see the talent just the oozing of talent out of their lineup you think who’s the next

Big Superstar they have and kits might be the one smart cut at the basket layup for kits and a now a season High 15 and they’re just so unselfish it makes them so difficult to defend Velasco had to get it off quick and Bs it in absolutely wonderful prep career

As well winning several state titles contributing as a seventh grader is just Mind box Ling to me what an opportunity to have right really solid Defender offensively her game just continues to grow powpow gets her hands on it again and this time has the [Applause] steal kits has deep position she’ll get

The catch against Hill get around her and score two more Chloe kits touches right now turns into a bucket and right now offensively she’s doing it both inside and out Morgan Sharps you give for space she’ll do that 16 for sharps fourth three I’m going to hit on it

Again but the quick release of Sharps has just really made it so she can operate against a very difficult South Carolina defense it’s over to Fleming shoots it over cardoo and Olivia Hill battling for that rebound hit the deck coach shamil’s entire family and you got to love the

Reunion and really you got to love what coach sa has done coming here to Bowling Green playing her former assistant coach’s team bringing this great crowd here tonight to the Strow center it’s been a wonderful show great for both these squats you said it earlier F wiy

It’s been Hall and she’s just had tough sledding all night long Runner no good for sharps here’s full widley the other way attacks the basket gets it to roll Fleming High arching three to get it over top of Fagen who was running out at her

And the ball ends up in you can’t lose her offensively for bowling green she’s been the most consistent answer in this ball game you to see her confidence continuing to grow he’s in the ball game N9 out of 22 Velasco left hand got it up Watkins the

Board here’s full Wy the other way she’s got Fleming in front of her got all the way to the basket couldn’t finish it the follow and it’s going to be an n one siia Fagan stayed with it Dynamic bigs great athletes on the perimeter as well

To surround them as we’ve said she’s had quite quite the go so far offensively for a team it looked like a good take there by Watkins yeah she had a good case Porter underneath had three4 Defenders there had some great moves a great pivot there to get inside and

Get and you’d think if Bowling Green wants to make noise in the Mac later this year Porter’s going to have to play a role in that run so continuing to see her figure it out here for the Falcons is very important Mid-American Conference play beginning January 3rd

Left wing three too much Watkins comes in takes it away underneath stays with it and has a chance at a three-point play South Carolina flat out right now is going to get every Miss and Bowling Green not getting a body him but in doing so you’re giving up a lot of Second Chance

Opportunities and you’re giving up those three-point looks as well and South Carolina has made you Bay South Carolina trying to keep it out of the hands of Bowling Greens guards As Time expires in the third bradwall Nikki alongside Brandon Bosch thank you for joining us on your Tuesday evening as Bowling Green

Hosts the number one team in the country South Carolina and full Wy full speed the other way great transition offense Point C she could score from three was very efficient against Presbyterian from three 13 player overall in the class ker off the switch now has full Wy

H her and full wiy the block ends up in the hands of kits tell you more about the night for Chloe kits coming up as Raven Johnson late decision dumps it off to Cardoza vas is going to try and attack her at least thought so for a moment might look

For a clear out here trying to get Porter out of there Velasco will attack in his block from behind bar cardoo pretty impressive she was limping on one leg and still able to pull off the block that’s a good job by Fleming just to stay in front and Porter gets the jump ball

This is powpow the Oregon Transfer with it she was all Pack 12 honors all three seasons at Oregon and she is just blossoming before our eyes see if South Carolina can take advantage of the Bowling Green turnover pal poow right wi three smiles South Carolina Squad does a little bit of

Everything p P the rebound full Wy thought about the pullup takes a dribble can’t knock it down Bowling Green wants to push the pace Velasco sees Fleming all loone up ahead for the sophomore now and that high low combination between her and cardoso is going to be an absolute

Menace In the Southeastern Conference this here South Carolina on the season shooting 52% from the field 60% tonight shot 6 4% in the first half not talk about it but I think if you’re Bowling Green you’ve got a lot of positives to look at when you leave this game you’ve

Really done well on the glass for the most part Porter has played excellent throughout the game and Porter went how they’re going to operate moving forward and I think this is another piece in the puzzle of their season but you’re playing couple of big 10 teams and the top team in the

Country you look at their schedule they’re out of conference they don’t back down from anybody either and you see that in their coaching ped agree obviously they have a similar philosophy did not attempt a free throw in the first half but she is an improved free throw shooter yeah given how much

South Carolina lost to be where they are right now da Staley’s got to be pretty content Johnson Baseline catch and shoot just a it’s nice when you can bring a McDonald’s all American off your bench as your 10th or 11th man woman sorry and she will continue to be one of

Those players that I think like full Wy will have a bigger role as she continues on Morgan Sharps 22 points on the night Sharps has got to feel great after this game against the top team in the country she’s really put on a show into Hill keeps it out of the hands of

Watkins eight on the shot clock for Velasco corner for sharps can she stay hot yes she had 26 against Southern Indiana off the Miss for Walker here come the Falcons just over three to play Sharps finds Porter got Watkins on her back the pump fake and the reverse finish nice

Moves though they’re down 30 plus they continue to play with great heart and effort Steel by Fleming Fleming’s going to leave it it’s Basco getting the look and Fleming hustles down the loose basketball former Bowling Green Falcon Nyla Hampton now part of that Ball State program will be facing your former

Teammates that’s a big time match up and you think both teams know that that’s one of the key games in the map this year getting all the way to the displaying her fr ation in a variety of ways reminder to stay with us when this one goes final we’ll show you the final

Stats there she’s holding her players accountable even late in a game like this where they’re up 30 points does she take your talent and elevate it but she’s going to hold you accountable and make you [Applause] better ker knocked away for a moment finds McGuff in the lane she is blocked

Zekin got it earned a starting roll as of late made her first career start last game now playing in her 81st career game for Bowling Green and in that last game for Z and she did have 12 points and 10 boards first career double double second free throw

Good the final seconds will tick down here in Bowling Green a great effort from Bowling Green but South Carolina shows why they are number one in the country 9362 the final the Gamecocks are now 11 and0 Bowling Green quick turnar around now you get ready Friday to go to Blooming to take

On the Indiana hoogers number 15 in the country and another big time opponent and we talked about you know this team as a whole challenging themselves throughout the month of December it’s only going to pay off come back play again you’ve got a lot of positives to

Take out of this one against the number one team of the country and Fred Shamil some nice moments there with familiar faces his former team coming here to the stro center tonight no matter the outcome of this game this game benefits both sides it does and you see a lot of

Players there that are very excited to see coach and probably a lot of kids he recruited to South Carolina you would think they’re happy for him happy for his opportunity here at Bowling Green he’s had quite the start to his coaching career here in Bowling Green got to be

Excited for the future again a solid effort from the Falcons tonight