Current:Home > News'I wish she would've pushed Angel Reese': LSU's Kim Mulkey reacts to women's SEC title fight -Secure Growth Solutions
'I wish she would've pushed Angel Reese': LSU's Kim Mulkey reacts to women's SEC title fight
View
Date:2025-04-14 20:17:51
GREENVILLE, S.C. — A highly competitive women's college basketball SEC tournament championship game between LSU and South Carolina will go down as "the one with the fight."
The No. 2 seed Tigers (28-5) and No. 1 Gamecocks (32-0) traded metaphorical haymakers for nearly 38 minutes and were within seven points of each other when the pot boiled over inside Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Sunday afternoon.
"Do you realize that was only foul called on both teams with two minutes to go with the fourth quarter? Are you kidding me?" LSU coach Kim Mulkey said following her team's 79-72 loss to South Carolina on Sunday. "It might've created some of that. Not the way we play, we're going to foul your ass. Not the way they play, they're going to foul your ass.
"But you only blew that whistle one time? Think about that now."
With 2:08 remaining in the game, South Carolina freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley stripped the ball from LSU sophomore Flau'jae Johnson, who grabbed her as she started up the court for an intentional foul.
After the foul was called, South Carolina's Ashlyn Watkins approached Johnson. The two exchanged words before Johnson gave Watkins a forearm shove. That's when South Carolina star senior center Kamilla Cardoso rushed Johnson and laid her out with a body check.
The skirmish near the scorer's table led to Cardoso's ejection, along with the bench players from both teams with the exception of South Carolina's Sania Feagin and starter Te-Hina Paopao. The two were allowed to stay because, when the fight broke out, Feagin did not leave the bench area and Paopao was already at the scorer's table ready to check into the game.
ESPN identified Johnson's brother as the fan who leapt onto the court during the scuffle and was immediately detained by local authorities.
"What I saw, Flau'jae intentionally fouled Fulwiley because she stripped her. Great move because she was going to get a layup right there. And then some jawing went on with her and another player. Then the next thing I know Cardoso just waylaid her," Mulkey said. "So I ran out there because somebody came out of the stands, and I think it was Flau'jae's brother, trying to keep him from doing anything crazy.
"That was all I know. I can't tell from my bench how many left the court. They saw it on film and said everybody had to go. And I think one player from South Carolina didn't leave the bench, but my question is, I don't really know the rules, but why didn't the coaches get tossed if they left the bench? Wouldn't that be a hell of an ending? I guess it's just the players that leave the bench area.
"It's ugly. It's not good. No one wants to be a part of that. No one wants to see that ugliness. But I can tell you this: I wish she would've pushed Angel Reese. Don't push a kid – you're 6-foot-8 – don't push somebody that little. That was uncalled for in my opinion. Let those two girls that were jawing, let them go at it."
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU/UL athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at [email protected].
veryGood! (3)
Related
- Former Milwaukee hotel workers charged with murder after video shows them holding down Black man
- Pakistan says the IMF executive board approved release of $700 million of $3B bailout
- The Cast of Sabrina The Teenage Witch Will Have a Magical Reunion at 90s Con
- Julia Roberts Shares Sweet Glimpse Into Relationship With Husband Danny Moder
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- Teens won't be able to see certain posts on Facebook, Instagram: What Meta's changes mean
- Pentagon watchdog to review Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's hospitalization
- Panamanian commission visits copper mine shut down after court invalidated concession
- Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
- Iowa man killed after using truck to ram 2 police vehicles at casino, authorities say
Ranking
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- FC Cincinnati's Aaron Boupendza facing blackmail threat over stolen video
- Longtime North Carolina appellate judge preparing to scale back work at the 4th US Circuit
- What causes avalanches and how can you survive them? A physicist explains after the Palisades Tahoe disaster
- Family of explorer who died in the Titan sub implosion seeks $50M-plus in wrongful death lawsuit
- Woman investigated for trying to poison husband under direction of soap star impersonator
- In 1989, a distraught father was filmed finding the body of his 5-year-old son. He's now accused in the boy's murder.
- Phoenix seeks to end Justice Department probe of its police department without court supervision
Recommendation
Organizers cancel Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna over fears of an attack
'Jellyfish', 'Chandelier' latest reported UFOs caught on video to stoke public interest
AP Week in Pictures: North America
Rome opens new archaeological park and museum in shadow of Colosseum
Olympic men's basketball bracket: Results of the 5x5 tournament
France’s new government announced with only one major change at the foreign ministry
Oregon's Dan Lanning says he is staying at Oregon and won't replace Nick Saban at Alabama
Publix Deli bbq sauce recalled over potential fish allergen not on the label