The near melee between LSU and South Carolina on Sunday was just the boiling point of a feisty game between the SEC rivals.
The SEC women’s basketball conference title game featured a number of physical moments, including battles between LSU star Angel Reese and South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso.
Those appeared to hit a crescendo with just over two minutes to play in the fourth quarter when an aggressive reactionary shove by Cardoso led to the benches clearing and an LSU player’s brother storming the court.
But Reese’s battle with Cardoso was an appetizer as the two went at it during the game.
ESPN cameras had caught the two during a particularly aggressive point as they jockeyed for position while Cardoso smiled the whole time and the two jawed at one another.
Reese took things a bit further later in the game when she yanked on Cardoso’s hair, but the officials didn’t appear to see it and the offense went uncalled.
Cardoso gave a bit of a shove to the back of Reese further into the game, which led the LSU star to retaliate with a second-quarter elbow that was caught by the refs and earned Reese and intentional foul.
Eventually, Cardoso found herself at the center of the melee at the end of the game and was one of several players ejected.
She apologized for her actions after the game.
“I would like to extend my sincerest apologies for my actions during today’s game,” Cardoso wrote on X.
“My behavior was not representative of who I am as a person or the South Carolina program, and I deeply regret any discomfort or inconvenience it may have caused.
Due to her fighting penalty, Cardoso will not be eligible for the first round of the NCAA tournament.
South Carolina is expected to be the No. 1 seed in this year’s tournament.
After the game, Reese posted to X: “geaux tigers’ with a kiss emoji.
