ESPN gave LSU and South Carolina basketball fans quite the shock amid the chaos at the end of Sunday’s SEC women’s basketball championship game.
Broadcasters Courtney Lyle and Carolyn Peck announced following ejections from both benches after a near on-court brawl that every player kicked out of the game would be ineligible to play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
A rather jarring announcement for two of the game’s best women’s programs headed into the biggest tournament of the season.
It would have been quite the blow as 11 total players were ejected on Sunday.
But ESPN quickly corrected itself on-air just minutes later.
The clarification indicated instead that only players who had been given a penalty for fighting would be ineligible to play in the opening round for March Madness.
South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso was the only one given a penalty of that nature, which meant while she’ll miss out on the opening round, the rest of the Gamecock’s bench would be available to play.
As would LSU’s bench.
There had been enough chaos to understand a bit of the confusion as the refs sorted out what had occurred with 2:08 left in the game and LSU trailing by seven.
An intentional by Flau’jae Johnson on MiLaysia Fulwiley led to the already chippy game between the SEC rivals turning into a near war.
Johnson didn’t take too kindly to Ashlyn Watkins seemingly celebrating in front of the LSU player and she pushed Watkins, which led to Cardoso knocking Johnson to the ground and the players leaving the bench to join in the fray.
It even led to Johnson’s brother jumping onto the court from the stands and having to be removed by police.
South Carolina eventually won the game 79-72 to keep their undefeated season going and set themselves up as the presumptive No. 1 overall seed for the NCAA tournament.
Sunday was South Carolina’s second win this season over LSU.
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