By PETE IACOBELLI AP Sports Writer
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GREENVILLE, S.C. — It was a Southeastern Conference Tournament celebration like no other in South Carolina’s history: Six subdued players in white championship hats stood on the podium while the rest of their teammates remained in the locker room.

“It was heartbreaking,” guard Te-Hina Paopao said after the Gamecocks’ 79-72 victory over No. 8 LSU was marred by a fourth-quarter fight that led to South Carolina leading scorer and rebounder Kamilla Cardoso being ejected.

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MiLaysia Fulwiley, a freshman named the tournament’s MVP, scored a career-high 24 points as South Carolina won its eighth tournament crown in the past 10 seasons.

“We couldn’t have done it without them,” Paopao said of missing Cardoso, Chloe Kitts, Tessa Johnson and Sakima Walker from the typically joyous postgame ceremony. “It was very hard for us, just a lot of emotions. We really wanted them to celebrate with us.”

Kitts, Johnson and Walker were ejected for leaving the bench during the incident, which was sparked with just over two minutes left when the 6-foot-7 Cardoso shoved 5-10 Flau’jae Johnson of LSU after an intentional foul.

Paopao said the whole group celebrated behind the scenes.

“We’re a team,” she said. “We’re going to bounce back from that learn from our mistakes.”

South Carolina (32-0) was ahead 73-66 when Fulwiley stole the ball from Johnson, who wrapped her up and was called for a foul. Johnson then bumped South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins, and the 6-foot-7 Cardoso rushed over and pushed the 5-10 Johnson to the ground. Players from both benches rushed toward them.

Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said Johnson came up to her after the game to apologize, telling Staley, “I’m not that type of player.”

Staley, too, apologized on behalf of her program to the remaining South Carolina fans who filled the arena all weekend.

Staley’s assessment of the dustup?

“What you saw were two highly competitive teams and they did not handle it well,” she said.

The penalties, Staley said, were appropriate and she will spend time the next week or so before the NCAA Tournament reminding her players not to give in to emotions at heated times.

“People see that this is now part of our game,” she continued. “We have to fix it.”

Cardoso, too, apologized on social media after the game. The SEC did not open locker rooms to reporters.

“My behavior was not representative of who I am as a person or the South Carolina program, and I deeply regret any discomfort or inconvenience it may have caused. I take full responsibility for my actions,” she posted.

Cardoso and three of her teammates were ejected. Two LSU players — Aalyah Del Rosario and Janae Kent — who logged minutes in the game and came off the bench were also sent off. South Carolina was left with six players and the Tigers five.

Cardoso can be expected to miss time in the NCAA Tournament for her actions. The Gamecocks enter March Madness as the clear-cut No. 1 seed and the only undefeated team left in Division I, men or women. And they did it against the defending national champion Tigers and SEC player of the year Angel Reese.

Clark sparks Iowa’s comeback in 94-89 OT win over Nebraska

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark overcame a cold start to score 30 of her 34 points after halftime and help Iowa rally past Nebraska in overtime to win a third straight Big Ten Tournament.

Hannah Stuelke had 25 points and nine rebounds for the Hawkeyes (29-4), who trailed by 13 points late in the first half while their superstar Clark missed all nine of her 3-point attempts.

The all-time NCAA leading scorer finished 5 for 17 from deep, had 12 assists and hit the dagger 3-pointer with 51 seconds left in OT for an 89-87 lead just 16 seconds after Logan Nissley’s 3 had put the Cornhuskers in front.

Alexis Markowski had 23 points and 13 rebounds to lead Nebraska (22-11), which fell short of a second victory over Iowa this season.

Natalie Potts had 21 points and nine rebounds for the Huskers, who led 75-67 with 2 1/2 minutes to go in regulation, before Clark drained one of her signature step-back 3-pointers.

Her layup in traffic tied the game with 29 seconds left. Nissley’s baseline jumper was short at the regulation buzzer.

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NO. 5 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 74, NO. 2 STANFORD 62

LAS VEGAS (AP) — McKenzie Forbes scored 26 points and Southern California beat Stanford to win the Pac-12 Tournament championship.

The Trojans (26-5) won their second tournament title, having previously beaten Stanford in the 2014 championship game.

Forbes was named the tournament’s most outstanding player. Rayah Marshall had 18 rebounds and 10 points for the Trojans, while Kayla Padilla scored 13 points.

USC freshman sensation JuJu Watkins finished with nine points on 2-of-15 shooting. It was the first time she didn’t score in double figures.

Cameron Brink led the Cardinal (28-5) with 19 points, while Kiki Iriafen added 18.

• • •

NO. 14 NOTRE DAME 55, NO. 10 NORTH CAROLINA STATE 51

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Star freshman Hannah Hidalgo had 22 points, including a pair of baskets for the lead down the stretch, and Notre Dame beat North Carolina state in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament championship game.

The fourth-seeded Fighting Irish (26-6) won their first tournament title in five years and first under coach Niele Ivey.

Hidalgo finished with six rebounds and six assists and was named the tournament’s most valuable player. Maddy Westbeld added 16 points and seven boards for Notre Dame.

River Baldwin had 14 points and seven rebounds to lead N.C. State (27-6), while Aziaha James had 12 points on 5-for-16 shooting.

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NO. 9 UCONN 59, MARQUETTE 29

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Paige Bueckers had 27 points and 12 rebounds to lead UConn past Marquette in the Big East Tournament semifinals.

Ice Brady, making just her second start, added 10 points for the short-handed Huskies (28-5), who had seven available players after losing star center Aaliyah Edwards to a facial injury after she was struck in the nose in Saturday’s win over Providence.

Liza Karlen had 12 points and nine rebounds to lead Marquette (23-8), which made just 12 baskets on 54 shots (22%) and scored its last points with 4:49 left in the third quarter.

UConn will face Georgetown in Monday’s championship game.

• • •

GEORGETOWN 55, NO. 21 CREIGHTON 46

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Kelsey Ransom scored 14 points to lead sixth-seeded Georgetown past second-seeded Creighton in the Big East Tournament semifinals.

Alex Cowan added 12 points for the Hoyas (22-10), who have won six games in a row to earn the program’s first trip to the conference championship game and strengthen their case for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Georgetown will play UConn for the Big East title.

Morgan Maly scored 14 points on 5-of-15 shooting for the Bluejays (25-5), who saw their four-game win streak snapped.