COLUMBIA — South Carolina women's basketball capped off a perfect regular season − again.

With a 76-68 win over Tennessee on Sunday in Colonial Life Arena, the Gamecocks wrapped up an unblemished 29-0 regular season, including a 16-0 mark in SEC play.

The Gamecocks went undefeated in back-to-back regular seasons for the first time in program history, pulling off the remarkable feat a year after South Carolina lost a full starting lineup of seniors.

Senior center Kamilla Cardoso paced the Gamecocks' offense with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Senior guard Te-Hina Paopao added 14 points and freshman guard MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 13 points in her third career start.

Tennessee (17-11, 10-6 SEC) worked the lead down to three points in the fourth quarter, battling back from a deficit as large as 15 before Cardoso broke a scoring drought with back-to-back buckets.

The Gamecocks went on a late run to close the first half. After a cold start, Paopao hit her 3-pointer to wake South Carolina's offense up. The bucket gave the lead back to South Carolina and it closed the half with 16 of the final 22 points.

Before the game, South Carolina honored its three seniors − Cardoso, Paopao and forward Sakima Walker. All three have another year of eligibility and could return to next season. Cardoso is currently projected to be selected No. 4 overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in ESPN's WNBA mock draft.

Kamilla Cardoso anchors the offense on senior day

In what could be her final regular season game at Colonial Life Arena, Cardoso was the main motor for South Carolina's offense, putting up 18 points with 14 rebounds.

While she was limited in the second half due to foul trouble, Cardoso battled Tennessee in the paint. After the Lady Vols cut the Gamecocks' lead down to three points with five minutes remaining, Cardoso scored twice in a row − her first points of the half − to build the South Carolina lead back to seven points and help dispel Tennessee's upset chances.

Cardoso nearly recorded a double-double in the first half alone, finishing with 14 points and nine boards.

Te-Hina Paopao snaps offensive cold spells

Paopao was vital in keeping South Carolina's offense in the flow of the game while struggling to score Sunday.

After Tennessee worked its way to a second-quarter lead, Paopao drilled a 3-pointer to make South Carolina's second bucket of the period nearly five minutes in. The basket gave the Gamecocks the lead back and they never trailed again.

She provided the same spark in the third quarter amid a 0-for-7 shooting drought when she pulled up for a jumper. South Carolina made five of its next six shots, building up to a 15-point lead.

Paopao finished with 14 points and four assists.

Up next

South Carolina is the No. 1 seed for SEC Tournament in Greenville and won't play until Friday (noon, SEC Network) against the winner of Thursday's game between the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: South Carolina holds off Tennessee, finishes regular season 29-0