LSU, South Carolina Get Heated In Final Minutes Of SEC Women's Basketball Championship Game

The final minutes of the SEC women’s basketball championship game between the LSU Tigers and the South Carolina Gamecocks were filled with chaos.

With South Carolina up 73-66 with just over two minutes to play, Tigers guard Flau'jae Johnson fouled Gamecocks forward Ashlyn Watkins in transition. Watkins then started yelling in excitement right near Johnson’s face, which angered the LSU star. Letting her emotions get the best of her, she shoved Watkins and received a technical foul.

That’s where most people reasonably thought things would end. But as Watkins made her way back to her bench, her teammate - Kamilla Cardoso - walked up to Johnson and shoved her to the ground.

Here’s a clip of the actual shove.

And here’s a clip of the ESPN broadcast. Notice that a fan (who was wearing a red shirt) jumped down over the barrier and nearly made it to the scorer’s table. Thankfully, he was apprehended almost immediately.

Another fan was able to get past security and get all the way to Cardoso herself. That fan was Johnson's older brother and he got arrested immediately and sent off the court.

Amazingly, the referees did not administer any more fouls, but did hand out ejections. Play resumed, and South Carolina won the matchup 79-72. 

The Teams Had Different Reactions To the Scuffle After The Game

 South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley apologized for the actions of her team, saying that the incident did not represent the values of her team.

However, LSU head coach Kim Mulkey and forward Angel Reese struck a very different tone in their press conference.

Mulkey said that she wished Cardoso had literally chosen to pick on someone who was her own size.

Reese added that the Tigers were not intimidated by the class of their opponent and that the scuffle did not make them fear the Gamecocks at all.

There's no love lost between the teams. If these two programs meet up in March Madness, that would be must-see TV.