The South Carolina Gamecocks hosted the Missouri Tigers and looked to remain undefeated. This is the second meeting between the two teams this season, with South Carolina winning the first one 81-57.
The Gamecocks were without their star center Kamila Cardoso, who recently joined the Brazilian national team for its Olympic qualifying event. She will also miss their next game against UConn. They were also without forward Sahnya Jah, who will be out indefinitely due to conduct detrimental to the team.
The Missouri Tigers have lost four games in a row not to mention they are 2-7 in the SEC, so a much-needed win over the No. 1 team in the country would certainly give them a lot of confidence.
Game Recap
South Carolina got off to a slow start, allowing Missouri to go on a 6-0 run. They did not score until the 7:33 mark, and immediately the momentum shifted. Not only did they finally get on the board, but they continued it with a 10-2 run. Ashlyn Watkins scored five of their first seven points along with a block and a steal.
The Gamecocks outscored the Tigers 12-0 in the paint in the first quarter. MiLaysia Fulwiley played a big role in their scoring burst as she scored nine points in the quarter while only missing one shot.
That momentum continued in the second quarter as they continued to increase their lead. No Cardoso, no problem! They outscored Missouri 27-11, with Missouri not making a field in the last four minutes of the first half. Head coach Dawn Staley allowed everyone to chip in. South Carolina’s bench scored 22 points, one more point than the Tigers in the half.
The second half was no different as the Gamecocks continued to run up the score. Missouri got off to a great start in the third quarter, but they were no match for South Carolina. They were also shorthanded as three of their starters did not play due to injury, which has been an issue for them all season.
South Carolina recorded 47 rebounds, 19 assists, 15 steals, and 11 blocks. They scored 28 points off 21 turnovers, 44 points in the paint, and 26 fast break points. They dominated their opponent and improved to 22-0.
MiLaysia Fulwiley led the way with 19 points. She also had four assists and six steals. Chloe Kitts finished with 12 points on 60% FG, eight rebounds, and five blocks.
One of the reasons why South Carolina has been the best team in the country is because of their defense. They force many turnovers (16.0 per game), make opponents use up the shot clock before forcing a tough shot, and capitalize on second-chance opportunities. They won the game because of their defense, and everyone knows that defense wins championships.
What’s Next?
The South Carolina Gamecocks will host the UConn Huskies led by Paige Bueckers and Aaliyah Edwards. The game will take place on Sunday, February 11. The game will air on ESPN and begin at 2:00 pm EST.
Photo Courtesy: @GamecockWBB
