“Those 2 girls did show up good”: Chloe Kitts praises Michigan duo for almost snatching the win vs South Carolina

Chloe Kitts guided South Carolina to a 68-62 win over Michigan, but not without some tension, as the Wolverines nearly gave the Gamecocks their first loss since the 2023 NCAA semifinals.

Michigan's Syla Swords and Jordan Hobbs combined for 45 points, outscoring the entire Gamecocks' starting lineup. Swords tallied a double-double with 27 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 9-for-19. Hobbs attempted 16 3-pointers and made five for 19 points.

When asked about the Michigan duo in the post-game conference, Chloe Kitts praised Jordan Hobbs and Syla Swords while citing their impact on the Wolverines' offense.

"They were constantly moving, screens, back screens," Kitts said. "Michigan moved a lot and you really feel it out there. I mean they're backdooring you, they are cutting, setting screens all of the time. So, I think that's where they got us. But those two girls did show up good tonight." (2:50)

Before the defending champions defeated unranked Michigan in the Monday night opener at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, they trailed for most of the first half.

Dawn Staley adjusted the Gamecocks’ approach for the second half and USC began playing with more pace, control and effort. Their defense also held Michigan to just 21% shooting in the last two quarters. However, South Carolina went six minutes without a bucket in the closing stretch of the game.

Over the years, the Wolverines have garnered a reputation for giving top teams a run for their money. They defeated Baylor in December 2021 and Indiana the following month.

Chloe Kitts' impact and other factors that led to South Carolina's win

Chloe Kitts initiated Gamecocks’ scoring with six straight points and scored the majority of her points in the first half. She finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds.

Michigan's offense lacked balance, as Syla Swords and Jordan Hobbs accounted for more than half of the team's total shot attempts, with 41 out of 71.

Additionally, South Carolina’s bench outscored Michigan's 29-6, and free throws proved pivotal in the game's outcome. As Michigan closed the gap to just two points with 22 seconds left (64-62), USC sealed the win by hitting four of six free throws. Chloe Kitts made two of those, finishing 5-for-5 from the charity stripe.