A fight between LSU and South Carolina during the SEC women’s basketball championship game on Sunday led to a lengthy delay and one fan being led away by security after jumping over the scorer’s table to get involved.
South Carolina managed to hold on to win the game, 79-72, and capture its eighth SEC crown in the last 10 seasons following the wild few minutes late in the game.
Both benches were essentially ejected from the contest following the incident that occurred with just over two minutes left in the game and South Carolina leading LSU 73-66.
Tempers flared after an intentional foul by LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson on MiLaysia Fulwiley turned into a near melee as another South Carolina player touched Johnson, who then pushed Ashlyn Watkins as she looked to be celebrating right in front of the LSU player.
That’s when South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso came out of nowhere to knock Johnson to the ground and players from both benches ran onto the court.
It’s also when a man — identified by the ESPN broadcast as Johnson’s brother — ran down from the stands onto the court, forcing a uniformed police officer to have to restrain him and remove him from the floor.
Johnson’s brother was not arrested but was escorted out of the building, an LSU spokesperson said according to Reed Darcey of The Advocate.
“For us playing a part in that, that’s not who we are,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. “That’s not what we’re about.”
After the officials reviewed the incident on replay, which led to a 15-minute delay in the action, Johnson was called for an intentional foul, Cardoso was given a disqualifying foul and the last 2:08 was played five on five.
Eleven players were ejected and both locker rooms were closed to reporters after the game.
“It’s ugly, it’s not good, no one wants to be a part of that,” Mulkey said. “But I’ll tell you this, I wish [Cardoso] would’ve pushed Angel Reese. If you’re 6-8, don’t push somebody that little. That was uncalled for in my opinion. Let those two girls who were jawing, let them go at it.”
The game had been feisty for most of the afternoon and LSU and South Carolina share a rivalry that has plenty of bad blood between the programs.
Both schools have been among the best teams in women’s college basketball in recent years.
Cardoso, South Carolina’s leading scorer and rebounder, will likely be suspended for the opening game of the NCAA Tournament
LSU, the reigning national champions, fell to 28-5 this season, while South Carolina remained undefeated at 32-0.
“I just want to apologize to the basketball community. When you’re playing in championship games like this in our league things get heated,” Staley said in an ESPN interview after the game. “No bad intentions. Their emotions got so far ahead of them that sometimes these things happen.”