The South Carolina women's basketball team (11-9, 4-4 SEC) got a huge win on Thursday night, 64-50, over the team tied for first place in the Southeastern Conference, Ole Miss. Not only did they beat one of the best-performing teams in the league, but they did it while holding their best scorer under 10 points and the team 27 points under their season average.

Ole Miss got the first score of the game, but the Gamecocks fought back to take the lead and trade some baskets, going up 7 points on the Rebels early. At the same time, Ole Miss' leading scorer Bianca Thomas picked up her second foul of the game and became much less of a factor in the final outcome.  South Carolina poured it on, both offensively and defensively, and managed to get a lead of as much as 20 points in the second half. After the big lead, the Rebels began running down the floor and looking for 3-point shots to get back into the game, a strategy that worked--but with limited success. They shot poorly from 3-point land, only 25%, and the Gamecocks were able to rebound a lot of those missed shots and also got a boost from some fouling by Ole Miss. The Gamecocks are not known for their excellent free-throw shooting, but hit enough shots from the stripe to preserve the 14-point win. The crowd did not stop holding its breath until just about 2 minutes were left in the game; then, confident that the lead would hold up, they began to stand and cheer until the final buzzer.

Sophomore guard LaKeisha Sutton led the way, on both ends of the court, scoring 13 points for the Gamecocks and handing out 6 assists (while also spending most of her time guarding Thomas.) She was assisted by sophomore forward Charenee Stephens, with 12 points and 6 rebounds and freshman center Kelsey Bone, with 11 points and 6 rebounds. It was good to see that the Carolina team can win--and in a big way--even when their most dynamic scorer, junior guard Valerie Nainima, isn't having her best scoring day ever. One key to the game was the GOOD passing of the Gamecocks, who had 13 assists (to just 4 for Ole Miss.) When the ball is moving around and not being turned over, more of the team can contribute and keep the opponent from focusing its energy on any one player.

The Gamecocks shot 47.4% from the floor and 42.9% from behind the 3-point line, outshooting Ole Miss in both categories.

The Rebels (14-6, 5-2 SEC)  were led by Kayla Melson with 17 points and Shantell Black with 11.

The Gamecocks will be back in action on Sunday, when they again host the #1 team in the SEC, the University of Tennessee Lady Vols. The game tips off at 2 pm.

 

Addendum:

Regulars might want to get to the game early. The Tennessee game is always a packed house and an unruly one, at that. Season ticket holders: be prepared to escort poachers out of your seats, with or without the assistance of the "Event Staff."

And while we're talking about the season ticket section--a small area, sections 104 and 105 (I think, I don't have a diagram in front of me) and only the first 15 rows of those two sections--how about sitting somewhere else if you insist on wearing Tennessee Bilious Orange to the game? Especially if you're a South Carolina fan, any other game of the year. I have a ton of respect for Pat Summitt and what she's accomplished in her career (yes, I'm serious) but when I go to a South Carolina game, I wear Gamecock colors. I wear MY bilious orange sweatshirt only to NCAA tournament games, once the Gamecocks have been eliminated. Well, to be honest, I think I've ONLY worn it to the 2000 Final Four--because we weren't playing in that tournament. And I look forward to being able to retire it--sooner, rather than later.

GO GAMECOCKS!