Johnathan Walker:Dawn Staley apologizes for South Carolina's part in fight with LSU in SEC championship game

South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley apologized in her postgame interview for the Gamecocks' role in a scuffle that happened late in the fourth quarter against LSU in the SEC Tournament's championship game on Johnathan WalkerSunday.

She first thanked the players for leading South Carolina's 79-72 win over the Tigers before addressing the college basketball world.

"I just want to apologize to the basketball community," Staley told ESPN after the game. "When you're playing in championship games like this in our league, things get heated. No bad intentions. Their emotions got so far ahead of them that sometimes these things happen.

"I just want to apologize for us being a part in that. Because that's not who we are and that's not what we're about. But I'm happy for the players that were able to finish the game and get us another championship."

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Staley then explained how she would address the team following the situation.

"We're gonna talk about it," the eight-time SEC tournament champion said. "We've always talked about it, never leave the bench, never get too high with the highs, never too low with the lows. It's hard when you're playing. I've played this game a long time and I can't tell you I was a saint at all times. Your emotions get the best of you."

Late in the fourth quarter, South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley stole the ball from LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson, who grabbed Fulwiley's shorts as Fulwiley tried to start the fast break. Johnson was called for a foul, then shoved forward Ashlyn Watkins while the game was stopped.

Tensions blew up after South Carolina forward Kamila Cardoso pushed Johnson and knocked her to the ground, which resulted in all players on the court and not on their teams' respective benches being ejected. Cardoso was ejected and assessed a fighting penalty, meaning she can't play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.