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Lady Vols basketball vs South Carolina in SEC Tournament: Score prediction, scouting report

Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel
·2 min read

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Lady Vols basketball has Round 3 with undefeated South Carolina this weekend.

Tennessee (19-11) faces the No. 1 Gamecocks (30-0) in the SEC Tournament semifinals at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU). The Lady Vols beat Alabama 83-61 on Friday to advance to their fourth straight SEC Tournament semifinal.

Tennessee lost to South Carolina twice in the regular season, the first a 66-55 loss at home on Feb. 15 and then a 76-68 loss on the road in the regular-season finale Sunday. Here's what you need to know about the matchup.

Tennessee improved from first to second matchup with Gamecocks

In Tennessee's first loss to South Carolina, it went into the fourth quarter tied before running out of gas and losing by 11 points.

On Sunday, the Lady Vols lost by eight points, which is the Gamecocks' smallest margin of victory at home this season. Rickea Jackson scored 29 points in the loss.

Senior center Kamilla Cardoso has been the difference in both games, and Tennessee has to figure out how to limit her production or overcome it.

Dawn Staley's South Carolina team struggled in SEC Tournament quarterfinals

The Gamecocks' win over Texas A&M in the quarterfinals Friday wasn't an easy one – or a pretty one. They committed 24 turnovers, though the Aggies were only able to score 16 points off of them.

Tennessee scored 19 points off Alabama's 14 turnovers. The Lady Vols' defense has steadily improved over the last month, and if they can capitalize off some South Carolina turnovers, it could swing the game in their favor.

South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso (10) makes a shot near Texas A & M forward Lauren Ware (32) during the third quarter of the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament game at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. Friday, March 8, 2024.
South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso (10) makes a shot near Texas A & M forward Lauren Ware (32) during the third quarter of the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament game at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. Friday, March 8, 2024.

Tennessee has limit Gamecocks' reserves again

A big difference from the first to second matchup was Tennessee holding South Carolina's bench to 17 points Sunday. In the first loss, the Gamecocks' bench scored 29 points, and they scored 35 points in the 79-68 win over Texas A&M on Friday.

FROM FRIDAY: How the Lady Vols loss to Alabama a month ago was an 'energizer' in SEC Tournament win

The Lady Vols have to keep South Carolina's depth from hurting them again. If they can limit the bench from being productive, it will change the game.

Lady Vols basketball score prediction vs. South Carolina in SEC Tournament

Tennessee 75, South Carolina 71: This is a bold prediction, but it's hard to beat a team three times in one season, let alone in three weeks. The Lady Vols aren't scared of South Carolina, and they're going into the game believing they can win – and that might be one of the biggest hurdles when playing the undefeated Gamecocks.

Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on Twitter @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Lady Vols basketball vs South Carolina score prediction, SEC Tournament