Women's Hoops at Iowa State Sunday
#1/1 SOUTH CAROLINA (3-1) AT #23/18 IOWA STATE (2-1)
NOON | AMES, IOWA | HILTON COLISEUM
South Carolina Game Notes | WATCH: ESPNU | LISTEN: 107.5 FM | Live Stats | Media Availability
ABOUT THIS GAME
- This is South Carolina’s third-straight game against a nationally ranked opponent.
- South Carolina is making its third appearance in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge and playing on the road for the second time in those three games. The Gamecocks are 1-1 in the event.
- The Gamecocks and Cyclones have never met in women’s basketball, making Iowa State the second opponent South Carolina is facing for the first time in 2020-21. Gonzaga is the other.
- Under Staley, the Gamecocks are 77-62 against ranked opponents, including a 61-15 mark when they are ranked higher than their opponent. South Carolina is 23-21 against ranked opponents on the road under Staley.
- Today is the Gamecocks’ first true road game of the season.
GAMECOCK NOTABLES
- Sophomore guard Zia Cooke leads the Gamecock offense with 16.0 points per game and has scored in double figures in every game.. Named to the watch list for all three national player of the year awards, she is also on the watch list for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award.
- Unanimous preseason All-America Aliyah Boston has become the focal point of every opponent’s defense and this season, and the sophomore forward is watching film and working on ways to improve her efficiency as the season continues. Despite the attention, she has scored in double figures three times in four games and is second on the team in rebounding (8.5 rpg).
- The Gamecocks 2019 recruiting class was ranked No. 1 in the country, and three of those five signees began burnishing their reputations last season. Laeticia Amihere needed more time to recover from injuries that robbed her of her last two high school season, but has exploded into her sophomore season with her ability to affect the game on both sides of the ball and in the half-court as well as transition. She has two double-doubles and leads the team on the glass (9.8 rpg) and in blocked shots (2.0).
- Junior Destanni Henderson is adjusting to being the Gamecocks’ primary point guard, balancing her dynamic scoring ability with the need to organize and facilitate the offense. She is ninth in the SEC with 4.0 assists per game and second on the team in scoring with 13.8 points per game, shooting 43.2 percent from the field. She was outstanding at the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic with 21.0 points per game, including a career-high 23 to power a win over No. 21/20 Gonzaga (Nov. 29) en route to tournament MVP honors.
BY THE NUMBERS
6 Six of the 11 Gamecocks on the roster this season were McDonald’s All-America selections.
8 Eight Gamecocks have scored in double figures at least once already this season, including four who have at least one double-double to their credit.
9 South Carolina’s 23-game schedule features nine games against teams ranked in the preseason top 25.
9.8 Sophomore Laeticia Amihere is averaging nearly a double-double with 9.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
52.0 South Carolina ranks ninth in the country with 52.0 rebounds per game. The Gamecocks have out-rebounded their opponent every game so far this season.
79.7 The Gamecocks are making 79.7 percent of their field goals in the paint this season
