6 players ejected after scuffle in SEC title game between South Carolina, LSU
Tensions escalated late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's SEC championship game between South Carolina and LSU.
A fracas began shortly after LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson committed an intentional foul on Gamecocks freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley.
Johnson then pushed South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins as the latter approached her.
Gamecocks leading scorer Kamilla Cardoso immediately came to Watkins' defense, shoving Johnson at center court. Players from both benches subsequently rushed in.
LSU and South Carolina players got into a scuffle in the fourth quarter of the SEC Championship. pic.twitter.com/rXw1tb1jWM
— ESPN (@espn) March 10, 2024
Cardoso was given a fighting penalty and won't be able to play in South Carolina's NCAA Tournament opener, according to ESPN's Alexa Philippou.
Most of each team's players were ejected from the contest, and only five from each side remained.
Remaining players for LSU:
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) March 10, 2024
Johnson, Reese, HVL, Williams, Morrow
For South Carolina:
Watkins, Fulwiley, Feagin, Hall, Raven Johnson
Everyone else has been ejected
"I want to apologize for us playing a part in that. That's not who we are. That's not what we are about," Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley said in her on-court postgame interview, per ESPN's Myron Medcalf.
South Carolina eventually prevailed 79-72 to capture its eighth SEC Tournament crown in 10 years.