Will Another Team Reach South Carolina’s Standards?
Tonight, was another big night for the Gamecocks once again, with Joyce Edwards being the top leader of it all tonight by scoring 21 points to help South Carolina maintain their Number two ranking. The first half started off rocky for Alabama, but they managed to keep up pace with South Carolina for as long as they could. Chloe Kitts had 10 points and 13 rebounds, while MiLaysia Fulwiley added 16 points followed by Te-Hina Paopao who scored 11 points. Aaliyah Nye made a significant block against Tessa Johnson, Edward continued her dominance by constantly going back to the free-throw line. Alabama fought to stay in the game, but South Carolina was making it hard for Alabama to get through their defensive lineup. South Carolina had 18 rebounds compared to Alabama's six.
Zaay Green led Alabama with a total of 15 points, three assists, and five rebounds, while Essence Cody was a big asset to Alabama, contributing 15 points, and four rebounds. Chloe Kitts was doing an excellent job putting pressure on Alabama’s offense. Free throw shooting was very important for Alabama, as they earned many of their points at the line, followed by Cody’s efforts. Furthermore, despite their determination Alabama struggled to overcome South Carolina’s defensive dominance and the rebounding advantages they had. South Carolina had 15 total turnovers while Alabama had nine turnovers. South Carolina had the largest lead of the night with it being 18 points. South Carolina was shooting extremely well with a percentage of 44.3%. Essence Cody was on fire, finishing strong by drawing fouls and leading Alabama’s consistent trips to the free-throw line, turning these opportunities into points to extend their lead. Meanwhile, South Carolina struggled with offensive fouls and appeared disorganized in the paint.
Zaay Green was able to take advantage of the rim, giving Alabama a chance to stay strong in the offense. South Carolina’s head coach, Dawn Staley emphasized the importance of having to control the paint. South Carolina has no problem with their bench scoring however, their defensive struggles gave them a hard time. Aaliayh Nye had 12 points tonight with two assists and three rebounds. South Carolina was able to do a turnaround by dominating in the paint with 38 points. South Carolina's bench was able to outperform Alabama's, as they fell short of getting any points, assists, or rebounds. This matchup was not as challenging as others South Carolina has faced, allowing them to secure a dominant 76-58 victory over Alabama. The Gamecocks will next face Oklahoma this Sunday, January 19, at 3:00 PM.
