Jan. 3, 2015
Game Information
Opponent: LSU Lady Tigers (7-6, 1-0 SEC)
Date: Sunday, January 4, 2015 | 2 p.m. (CT)
Site: Baton Rouge, La.
Arena: Maravich Center (13,215)
Broadcast: ESPN2 (Dave O’Brien pxp, Carolyn Peck, analyst); via WatchESPN
Radio: 107.5 The Game (Brad Muller); GamecocksOnline.com
Live Stats: LSUSports.net
Series History: LSU leads 22-6
South Carolina Notables
- Today’s game is just the third true road game for South Carolina, which has played more neutral site games (4) than road contests so far this season. Last season’s 10-2 road record was the best winning percentage in program history.
- The Gamecocks’ 13-0 start is the best in program history and ties the school record for longest win streak. The 1985-86 team put together 13 wins from Jan. 25 through March 3.
- South Carolina yielded over 50 points in a game for the first time in six outings Friday night against Auburn, which scored 58. The Gamecock defense had the Tigers locked up in the first half, though, allowing just 17 points in the opening 20 minutes.
- Senior Aleighsa Welch posted the ninth perfect-shooting game of her career Friday night against Auburn, hitting 6-of-6 from the field for team-high 12 points in just 19 minutes. Welch leads the Gamecocks with a .608 field goal percentage.
- Senior Elem Ibiam has scored in double figures in four of the last five games, including each of the last three.
- Sophomore Alaina Coates has posted four double-doubles in the last five games while averaging just 20.6 minutes during that stretch.
- Freshman A’ja Wilson has been the Gamecocks’ top scorer a team-high seven times in 13 games this season. She is second on the team in scoring at 14.0 points per game.
Notes
A South Carolina Win Would…
- Break the school record for longest win streak at 14.
- Be the Gamecocks’ third straight over LSU, which would be their longest streak of the series.
By the Numbers
2 Blocks needed by senior Elem Ibiam to tie Michelle Murray (1990-93) for second on the program’s career list
4 Gamecocks named to the Naismith Trophy Top 50 Watch List – Alaina Coates, Tiffany Mitchell, Aleighsa Welch and A’ja Wilson
4 Remaining unbeaten teams in the nation (through games of Jan. 2) – South Carolina, Mississippi State, Princeton and Texas
6 Games in which South Carolina’s bench has tied or out-scored its starters
7 Double-doubles by Alaina Coates this season, tied for the SEC lead, including four in the last six games
25 Straight wins at home by the Gamecocks, the second-longest active home win streak in the nation, trailing just Dayton’s 31
47.5 Percent of this season’s scoring that has come from the bench
65.7 Percent of the Gamecocks’ field goals that have been assisted this season (257 of 391)
LSU Series History
The Lady Tigers have a commanding 22-6 lead in this series, but the Gamecocks have won the last two meetings to lift their Staley-era record to 3-6 against LSU. Last season’s 16-point victory (73-57) was South Carolina’s largest in the history of the series, coming on Feb. 16, 2014, in Baton Rouge. The then-No. 5/6 Gamecocks steadily pushed past then-No. 19/17 LSU behind 19-point games from both Tiffany Mitchell and Aleighsa Welch. South Carolina’s 3-point shooting carried it in the first half while points in the paint dominated its second-half effort. Mitchell dished out seven assists and reeled in seven rebounds as well. The Lady Tigers’ last win in the series, a 58-48 decision< came=”” on=”” jan.=”” 12,=”” 2012,=”” in=”” baton=”” rouge.=”” lsu=”” out-scored=”” south=”” carolina=”” 38-21=”” in=”” the=”” second=”” half=”” behind=”” 52.6=”” percent=”” shooting.=””>
Road Warriors
The Gamecocks are playing just their third true road game of the season today as the 2014-15 schedule has featured more neutral-site games (4) than away contests so far. Overall, South Carolina is 205-240 in road games, including a 36-31 record during the Dawn Staley era. After a difficult start as the Gamecocks’ mentor, Staley has guided her team to two of the program’s top five road records in program history, including last season’s school-record winning percentage of .833 (10-2). Her 2012-13 team posted a 7-3 (.700) record on the road for the fourth-best in program history.
SEC Stories
Head coach Dawn Staley has steadily lifted the Gamecocks’ national profile by building the Gamecocks into a consistent SEC contender, shirking decades of difficulty in the nation’s best women’s basketball conference. In her seventh season at the helm, Staley boasts a 53-42 (.558) SEC regular-season record and has finished outside the league’s top five just twice – an unprecedented achievement for a program that had finished INSIDE the top five just twice in the previous 17 seasons. Staley’s 53 wins three seasons of double-digit league victories – 10-6 in 2012, 11-5 in 2013 and an SEC-best 14-2 in 2014. Staley’s SEC regular-season record includes a 29-18 mark at home and a 23-24 slate on the road.
Controlled Caroms
The Gamecocks have also built their success on the glass – another area, like defense, that Staley preaches as a measure of effort as much as talent. South Carolina ranks eighth in the nation in rebounding margin, out-boards its opponents by 11.8 per game. The Gamecocks have out-paced their opponent by double-digit rebounds seven times this season, including three games by at least 20 rebounds – Clemson (+22), Savannah State (+35) and at Hampton (+27).
Crowd Control
With over 8,000 season tickets issued, the Gamecocks have enjoyed unprecedented support at Colonial Life Arena this season. South Carolina currently leads the nation in average attendance (10,842). In fact, with just 12 games played in front of at least 10,000 fans nationally this season, the Gamecocks have four entries – more than any other team. South Carolina’s SEC opener against Auburn (Jan. 2) drew 16,465 fans – second-most in program history – to rank second in the nation behind Kentucky’s 22,075 at Rupp Arena (Nov. 17). The Gamecocks go the season off to a quick start with 10,057 fans at their season opener against Southern Cal, the largest crowd for a home opener since the opening game at Colonial Life Arena drew 17,712. South Carolina women’s basketball has logged eight crowds of over 10,000 fans in Colonial Life Arena history, seven of which have come in the last three seasons, including four already this season.
