Feb. 11, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. ââ’¬” South Carolina is one of two programs with three entries on the 2016 Naismith Trophy Midseason Watch List as Alaina Coates, Tiffany Mitchell and A’ja Wilson are on the 34-player list. It is the second-straight season that three Gamecocks have made the midseason list as Mitchell and Wilson are making repeat appearances, while it is Coates’ first selection.

Coates ranks among the nation’s top 35 in three stats this season, including leading the country in field goal percentage at .673. Her 12 double-doubles this season have already tied her previous career high and rank 16th in the nation. She is 31st in the country in rebounding with an SEC-best 10.0 boards per game. Coates averages a double-double both overall and in SEC play, during which she averages 12.4 points and 11.2 rebounds.

A two-time All-American, Mitchell has scored in double figures in all but two of South Carolina’s 23 games this season and ranks eighth in the SEC at 14.5 points per game. In SEC games, she ranks among the conference’s top 10 in five categories, coming in 12th in another. She is sixth in both scoring (15.1 ppg) and steals (2.0 spg) and comes in fourth in field goal percentage (.427) and free throw percentage (.814). Her 1.4 made 3s per game rank 10th, and she is 12th with 2.8 assists per game.

Wilson has been a dynamic force inside for South Carolina, leading the team in scoring with 16.5 points per game to rank fifth in the SEC. The league leader in blocked shots (3.1), she is second in double-doubles (10), third in field goal percentage (.539) and fourth in rebounding (9.0). She has led the Gamecocks in scoring 11 times and been the top rebounder in 10 games. Wilson has six 20-point games this season among her 18 in double digits.

No. 2/2 South Carolina is 22-1 on the season, including a 10-0 mark in SEC play, heading into tonight’s matchup with No. 16/19 Florida at 7 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena.

Naismith Trophy Midseason Watch List
Lindsay Allen, J., G, Notre Dame
Jillian Alleyne, Jr., G, Oregon
Ameryst Alston, Sr., G, Ohio State
Kristine Anigwe,Fr., C, California
Rachel Banham, Sr., G, Minnesota
Imani Boyette, Sr., C, Texas
Jordin Canada, So., G, UCLA
Alaina Coates, Jr., C, South Carolina
Nina Davis, Jr., F, Baylor
Makayla Epps, Jr., G, Kentucky
Aliyyah Handford, Sr., G, St. John’s
Moriah Jefferson, Sr., G, UConn
Chanise Jenkins, Sr., G, DePaul
Niya Johnson, Sr., G, Baylor
Jonquel Jones, Sr., F, George Washington
Brionna Jones, Jr., C, Maryland
Brittney Martin, Sr., F, Oklahoma State
Tiffany Mitchell, Sr., G, South Carolina
Kelsey Mitchell, So., G, Ohio State
Kelsey Plum, Jr., G, Washington
Aerial Powers, Jr., F, Michigan State
Shereesha Richards, Sr., F, Albany
Tabatha Richardson-Smith, Sr., G, Seton Hall
Jessica Shepard, Fr., F, Nebraska
Azura Stevens, So., F, Duke
Breanna Stewart, Sr., F, UConn
Morgan Tuck, Jr., F, UConn
Victoria Vivians, So., G, Mississippi State
Courtney Walker, Sr., G, Texas A&M
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Jr., G, Maryland
Jamie Weisner, Sr., G, Oregon State
Courtney Williams, Sr., G, South Florida
A’ja Wilson, So., F, South Carolina