COLUMBIA, S.C. () — The South Carolina women’s basketball team is one win away from punching their ticket to Sweet 16. They will take on Indiana at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Colonial Life in a nationally televised game. 

The team held its final practice before the second-round matchup. South Carolina did not play Indiana in the regular season. However, during last year’s NCAA tournament, the Hooisers gave South Carolina everything they could handle.

South Carolina enjoyed a three-point lead with just 16 seconds remaining in the contest. A blocked shot by Ashlyn Watkins and a made free throw by Tessa Johnson provided a four-point victory for the eventual national champions. The players have not forgotten last season’s game.

“Last year we played them,” sophomore MiLaysia Fuliwiley said. “They didn’t really lose by that much. So I know that gives them confidence. I was just thinking about that earlier. So we have to go out there and just throw the first punch because we know they’re coming out there aiming for us. We ended their season last year, so we’re just looking to do it again, hopefully.”

“They’ve always been a really good shooting team,” senior Sakima Walker said. “So they shoot the ball well. The Big Ten is very physical, so we know to expect physical play from them. We have to match their physicality and keep them off the three-point line.”

“I’m not sure if they will have a chip on his shoulder,” senior Sania Feagin said, “but I feel like everybody has a chip on their shoulder because everybody wants to win and make it to the national championship game. No matter what, I feel like everybody’s going to come in hard and ready to play.”

Saturday’s practice was closed to the media. However, players received a surprise and a real treat. Lisa Leslie watched practice. Leslie accomplished a lot in her basketball career. She won four Olympic gold medals and is in the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Coach Staley said they are friends and she likes to have her friends watch practice to get a different set of eyes on the team. Staley added Leslie probably will not talk to the team at practice. However, players did talk with Leslie right after the season started in Las Vegas and they really enjoyed chatting with one of the best players to ever play the game.

“She was just sitting in our film session as well,” Staley said. “You know, “When I have my friends in town, I like for them there to be a different eye and ear because sometimes when we’re all together, it’s what everybody brings to the table. And then we have someone else that sits in and maybe we’re not saying something that maybe we’re missing something, then we’re not saying.”

“It’s crazy,” junior guard Raven Johnson said. “She just walking around like she’s not a legend, like she’s getting in a car with Coach Staley like she’s not Lisa Leslie. I was looking at her like you’re walking around and you need a security guard, even Coach Staley. They both need a security guard. It’s honestly a blessing if you see her at our practice because she doesn’t go to a lot of people’s practice, maybe the school she went to. But to come to our practice, it’s kind of big because she gives us a lot of insight on the game of basketball, and I feel like she wants to see us win.”

“We’ve seen here at practice before,” freshman forward Joyce Edwards said. “I think when we were in Vegas and she came to our shoot around. I definitely took a picture with her. Just to have a conversation with her was big because she’s literally one of the greatest to ever do it.”

Sunday’s game against Indiana will also mark the last home game of the year for several South Carolina players. One in particular is Raven Johnson. She was recognized on Senior Day, but has the option to return for an additional year. spoke to her in the locker room and she said no decision has been made yet.