April 18, 2016

2015-16 Team Notes

• South Carolina improved its SEC win total for the seventh-straight season, posting just the league’s second 16-0 record to claim its third-straight regular-season championship.
• The Gamecocks punctuated their perfect SEC regular season with their second-consecutive SEC Tournament title, becoming just the third program in league history to win both the regular-season and tournament titles in back-to-back seasons ââ’¬” Tennessee (1999-2000 and 2010-11) and Georgia (1983-84).
• South Carolina recorded its second-straight 30-win season for the first time in program history, following up last season’s 34 wins with 33 this season. This seasons .943 winning percentage (33-2) is the best in program history, topping last season’s record of .919 (34-3).
• The Gamecocks finished the season ranked No. 3 in the AP final poll and No. 5 in the USA Today/Coaches Poll. The AP ranking matches the 2014-15 team’s mark as the best in program history. Since 2014, South Carolina has been ranked in the AP top five 44 times. In that stretch, only UConn (60) and Notre Dame (56) have appeared more times than the Gamecocks.
• South Carolina advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the third-straight season. Only five other teams have reached the Sweet 16 in each of the last three seasons ââ’¬” UConn, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Stanford and Baylor.
• The Gamecocks led the nation in average attendance for the second-straight season, drawing 14,364 fans per game at Colonial Life Arena. Nationally, Tennessee was the only other program to average at least 10,000 fans this season. South Carolina’s average attendance has grown steadily over the last four seasons ââ’¬” 3,952 in 2012-13, 6,371 in 2013-14, 12,293 in 2014-15 and this season’s 14,364.
• South Carolina led the SEC in scoring margin (+17.9), field goal percentage defense (.347), rebounding margin (+7.7), blocked shots per game (5.3) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.0).
• Three Gamecocks were named to the All-SEC First Team by both the league coaches and the Associated Press. It is the second-straight season the coaches have tapped three South Carolina players with the honor and a first by the Associated Press.
• South Carolina brought home SEC Player of the Year honors from the league coach for the third-straight season, marking the first time in league history that the same program has won the award in three consecutive years.
• The three four-year members of the 2016 Senior Class ââ’¬” Asia Dozier, Tiffany Mitchell and Khadijah Sessions ââ’¬” closed the most successful four-year stretch in South Carolina history, amassing 121 career wins and a .871 winning percentage (121-18).

2015-16 Individual Notes

• South Carolina improved its SEC win total for the seventh-straight season, posting just the league’s second 16-0 record to claim its third-straight regular-season championship.
• Head coach Dawn Staley became the first to collect SEC Coach of the Year honors from her peers in three straight seasons.
• Senior guard Tiffany Mitchell became South Carolina’s first three-time All-American since 1989, joining Mindy Ballou (1984, 1985, 1986), Martha Parker (1987, 1988, 1989) and Brantley Southers (1984, 1985, 1986) as the program’s only three-time selections. Mitchell joined Shannon Johnson (1994, 1995, 1996) as the program’s only three-time First-Team All-SEC selections.
• Sophomore forward A’ja Wilson became just the second player in league history to be named both SEC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, and the Associated Press confirmed her as the SEC Player of the Year. She was a finalist for every national player of the year award and a unanimous First-Team All-America selection.
• Junior center Alaina Coates was a First-Team All-SEC selection and an honorable mention WBCA All-American. She earned a spot on the NCAA Tournament All-Region team as well.

2016 Signing Class / Transfers Now Eligible

• Araion Bradshaw ââ’¬” 5’6″ ââ’¬” Guard ââ’¬” Hyde Park, Mass./Tabor Academy ââ’¬” No. 32 player overall, No. 10 guard in the 2016 class … helped team to back-to-back finals of NEPSAC Class A Tournament … 2016 Class A East All-Star (NEPSAC).
• Mikiah Harrigan ââ’¬” 6’2″ ââ’¬” Forward ââ’¬” Pembroke Pines, Fla./Flanagan ââ’¬” No. 12 forward in 2016 class … 2016 Florida Basketball Coaches Association 8A Player of the Year and two-time FBCA All-State selection … averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds in 2015-16.
• Tyahsa Harris ââ’¬” 5’10” ââ’¬” Guard ââ’¬” Noblesville, Ind./Heritage Christian ââ’¬” No. 27 player overall, No. 8 guard in 2016 class … finalist for Indiana’s “Miss Basketball,” which will be announced on April 28 … helped Heritage Christian to three straight state championships, including 2016 in the program’s first season in Class 3A … averaged 23 points in 2015-16 … 2016 Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Senior “Supreme 15” All-State selection.
• Victoria Patrick ââ’¬” 5’8″ ââ’¬” Guard ââ’¬” Orlando, Fla./Edgewater ââ’¬” No. 25 guard in the 2016 class … helped team to two state championships … averaged team-high 15 points in 2015-16 … First-Team All-Metro West and All-Area honors from Orlando Sentinel.
• Kaela Davis ââ’¬” 6’2″ ââ’¬” Junior ââ’¬” Guard ââ’¬” Suwanne, Ga./Georgia Tech ââ’¬” Two-time All-ACC (1st team, 2015; 2nd team 2014) … set ACC record for freshman scoring in 2013-14 … ACC’s top scorer in league games in 2014-15, averaging 19.2 points … ranked as No. 2 overall player and No. 1 guard in 2013 class … McDonald’s and WBCA High School All-America.
• Allisha Gray ââ’¬” 6’0″ ââ’¬” Junior ââ’¬” Guard ââ’¬” Sandersville, Ga./North Carolina ââ’¬” First-Team All-ACC (2015) … WBCA Honorable Mention All-America (2015) … reached 1,000 career points in two seasons at North Carolina … led team in scoring in 2014-15, averaging 15.2 points to rank eighth in the ACC … as a freshman, shot 41.8 percent from 3-point range to rank fifth in the ACC … ranked as No. 7 player overall and No. 4 guard in 2013 class … three-time Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Class 3A Player of the Year.

2016 WNBA

• Senior guard Tiffany Mitchell was the ninth pick in the WNBA draft, selected by the Indiana Fever. She becomes the sixth Gamecock selected in the WNBA Draft overall and the third first-round selection. The previous two first-round choices were also the ninth pick in their drafts ââ’¬” Shaunzinski Gorman (2002, Charlotte), Jocelyn Penn (2003, Charlotte). South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley was also the No. 9 pick when she entered the WNBA Draft (1999, Charlotte).
• Senior guard Tina Roy has been invited to training camp with the Atlanta Dream.