MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 23 points, including a go-ahead layup with 2:22 left, and Chloe Kitts added 15 points and 11 rebounds to help No. 1 seed South Carolina beat fourth-seeded Maryland 71-67 on Friday in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Women’s Tournament in Birmingham, Ala.

The defending national champion Gamecocks went back-and-forth with the Terrapins all game before finally doing enough in the final few minutes to put it away.

Dawn Staley’s team trailed 60-59 with 3:25 left before holding Maryland without a point over the next three minutes. Fulwiley’s layup began the 7-0 run that gave the Gamecocks (33-3) just enough of a cushion.

DUKE 47, NORTH CAROLINA 38 >> Oluchi Okananwa recorded her third double-double of the season to lead ACC Tournament champion Duke past North Carolina and into the Elite 8.

The Blue Devils will make their 12th Elite 8 appearance in program history and will play No. 1 seed and defending champion South Carolina.

Okananwa scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half along with 10 rebounds off the bench for Duke, which got 26 points from its bench compared to North Carolina’s six.

LSU 80, N.C. State 73 >> Aneesah Morrow had 30 points and 19 rebounds, Kailyn Gilbert had a critical block that set up Mikaylah Williams’ go-ahead layup with 1:07 remaining, and the No. 3 seed Tigers (31-5) rallied past the second-seeded Wolfpack in a Spokane 1 Regional semifinal.

The Wolfpack led 69-64 with 4:29 left before LSU began to surge, led by Williams, who scored 10 points in the fourth quarter. After Gilbert blocked a layup attempt by N.C. State’s Zoe Brooks, Williams converted on the other end to make it 74-73 — part of a game-closing 10-0 run for the Tigers.

Trojans solider on without Watkins >> While heartbroken at the loss of star guard JuJu Watkins, USC’s players are determined to move forward in the NCAA Women’s Tournament.

The No. 1-seeded Trojans (30-3) will face No. 5 seed Kansas State today in the Sweet 16 — their first game since Watkins suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second round.

“I think the prevailing feeling is that we can still do something together, and that’s what JuJu wants us to do,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said.

While the Trojans have vowed to soldier on, it will be difficult to replace Watkins and her 23.9 points per game.

A victory would send the Trojans to the Elite Eight to face either Paige Bueckers and UConn or Oklahoma.

UConn coach Geno Auriemma said he spoke to Gottlieb as soon as he heard about Watkins’ injury.

“I feel terrible for JuJu personally, knowing the players that I’ve had that have had to go through that, and how much it means to them and what they’re missing for the whole year they’re out, and for Lindsay, and for her teammates,” Auriemma said. “I think the effect that it has on the tournament is huge from a competitive standpoint and star power, and I think the USC kids will probably rise to the occasion and play amazing like they did the other night.”