Nov. 23, 2014

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – Two Gamecocks scored in double figures before the break as No. 2/3 South Carolina was solid on both sides of the ball in an 89-38 win over San Diego State Sunday afternoon at Colonial Life Arena. Junior Tiffany Mitchell had her long-range shooting dialed in, turning in the program’s best perfect shooting game from 3-point range (6-of-6), and the defense forced 19 turnovers in the first half alone to close out the season-opening, three-game homestand with another South Carolina (3-0) victory.

The Gamecock defense was aggressive early, forcing 13 turnovers in the game’s first eight minutes of action, including 10 straight possessions that allowed South Carolina to turn a 5-6 deficit into a 19-6 lead with just over 11 minutes to play. Youth led the way in the charge with Bianca Cuevas picking up three and A’ja Wilson swiping a pair.

The defensive effort was generating easy baskets or free throw opportunities in the first half of the opening period. South Carolina’s offense was truly finding its rhythm later in the period as Mitchell had it dialed in from 3-point range. With two late in the period, she tied her career high of four before the break and helped send the Gamecocks into the locker room with a 51-16 advantage.

Mitchell’s 20 points led four Gamecocks in double figures for the game. Wilson added 15 to the effort along with a team-high nine rebounds. Cuevas lifted her career high to 11 points to go with her team-high five assists and four steals. Coates rounded out the quartet with 10 points, missing out on her third-straight double-double with just five rebounds in limited minutes on the floor.

GAME CHANGER

Trailing 6-5 four minutes into the game, South Carolina forced 10 straight turnovers to take a 19-6 lead with just over 11 minutes to go in the half.

KEY STAT Junior Tiffany Mitchell was 6-of-6 from 3-point range, the best perfect-shooting game from outside the arc in school history. She missed the only two shots she took from inside the arc.

NOTABLES

• Senior guard Olivia Gaines drew her first start of the season, the second of her career.
• South Carolina turned 29 San Diego State turnovers into 31 points.
• The Gamecocks’ five starters played just a combined 79 of the 200 minutes available in the game as Staley looked to get her bench extended experience.

QUOTABLE South Carolina Head Coach Dawn Staley
I was encouraged by our ability to create offense from our defense, so that is a good thing. Those are possessions that we didn’t get a whole lot of last year, but this year we worked a lot on our defense, especially last week. And I like how we transitioned from practice to executing in the game.

UP NEXT

South Carolina leaves early Monday morning for the Junkanoo Jam on in the Bahamas. The Gamecocks face Wisconsin on Thu., Nov. 27, at 4:15 p.m. (ET). Live video will be available at www.JunkanooJam.com.

TWEETS OF THE GAME