Kamilla Cardoso, both benches ejected after fight breaks out between South Carolina and LSU in SEC Tournament championship

GREENVILLE – With two minutes left in the SEC Tournament championship, a fight broke out at half court between South Carolina women's basketball and LSU.

It started when Gamecocks freshman guard MiLaysia Fulwiley stole the ball from LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson, who then fouled Fulwiley to prevent an open-court layup. South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins ran up to Johnson after the play, yelling at Johnson, who then shoved Watkins.

South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso, who had been going at it in the post with LSU's Angel Reese all night, flew in and shoved Johnson to the ground, sparking a fight that got both benches involved. A police officer had to leap over the scorers table to chase down a fan who had gotten onto the court. According to the broadcast, it was Johnson's brother, and the officer escorted him from the court.

At the time of the fight, South Carolina led 73-66 with 2:08 left in the game. The championship game was physical from start to finish, and officials didn't make enough calls to contain the level of it. At one point, Reese yanked Cardoso's hair so hard it whipped her head back.

After a lengthy review, officials ejected Cardoso for physical fighting and both benches for going on the court during the scuffle. Johnson was issued an intentional foul. Gamecocks forward Sania Feagin was not ejected from the bench to replace Cardoso, and neither was senior guard Te-Hina Paopao.

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Cardoso is the only player who will face penalties in the NCAA Tournament for the ejection. She will be disqualified from South Carolina's first round game.

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Cardoso had eight points and six rebounds before getting ejected. She has been crucial for the Gamecocks this season and in the tournament, hitting a buzzer-beater 3-pointer to beat Tennessee in the semifinals.