The first round of the Southeastern Conference women’s basketball tournament pits the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team against Mississippi State University, a rematch of a game that took place barely a week ago.

There really wasn’t a lot to say after that game. The Gamecocks played an upset-worthy first half, employing fierce defensive pressure, but lost their grip on the game when they suffered a shooting drought in the second half. The result? A 41-58 loss to the Bulldogs.

This should be more of the same. The first round of the tournament is usually noteworthy for the play of the teams from the bottom third of the conference. Without post-season prospects, every game is potentially their last game. And most years, that challenge is enough to have at least one team playing out of their heads, hoping to be the team that pulls off the really big upset. (Which is only a BIG upset if it happens in the second round, over one of the Top Four bye teams.)

As long as the Gamecocks bring their game and their best effort, they can stay in the game with any of Thursday’s teams–though they are vulnerable because of those occasional lapses in scoring. A 5-minute chill is enough to lose the game. The keys are avoiding turnovers and maintaining a consistent scoring threat–wherever it may come from. It has sometimes been C.J. Pace, the last senior standing. Freshman guard Lakeisha Sutton has also shown the ability to lead the team in scoring, but not yet on a consistent basis.

Everyone on the team pitches in and when the Gamecocks find a hot shooter, they can be dangerous. Even a merely consistent shooter (preferably two of them) could keep them in contention to walk off with a win in this first round game.

The Gamecocks play the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Game 4 on Thursday, the opening day of the SEC Tournament. That game is scheduled to begin at 9 pm CT.

The first round of the Southeastern Conference women’s basketball tournament pits the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team against Mississippi State University, a rematch of a game that took place barely a week ago.

There really wasn’t a lot to say after that game. The Gamecocks played an upset-worthy first half, employing fierce defensive pressure, but lost their grip on the game when they suffered a shooting drought in the second half. The result? A 41-58 loss to the Bulldogs.

This should be more of the same. The first round of the tournament is usually noteworthy for the play of the teams from the bottom third of the conference. Without post-season prospects, every game is potentially their last game. And most years, that challenge is enough to have at least one team playing out of their heads, hoping to be the team that pulls off the really big upset. (Which is only a BIG upset if it happens in the second round, over one of the Top Four bye teams.)

As long as the Gamecocks bring their game and their best effort, they can stay in the game with any of Thursday’s teams–though they are vulnerable because of those occasional lapses in scoring. A 5-minute chill is enough to lose the game. The keys are avoiding turnovers and maintaining a consistent scoring threat–wherever it may come from. It has sometimes been C.J. Pace, the last senior standing. Freshman guard Lakeisha Sutton has also shown the ability to lead the team in scoring, but not yet on a consistent basis.

Everyone on the team pitches in and when the Gamecocks find a hot shooter, they can be dangerous. Even a merely consistent shooter (preferably two of them) could keep them in contention to walk off with a win in this first round game.

The Gamecocks play the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Game 4 on Thursday, the opening day of the SEC Tournament. That game is scheduled to begin at 9 pm CT.