Nov. 18, 2017
#4/2 South Carolina vs Wofford
COLUMBIA, S.C. — No. 4/2 South Carolina is back at Colonial Life Arena Sunday for the first time since its season opener. The Gamecocks host Wofford at 3 p.m. on SEC Network+ and are set to defend their in-state dominance after topping Clemson last Thursday.
PARKING INFORMATION
Parking in Lots A and B will be pass only, however, public handicap parking in those lots will be $10. Additional private and city lot parking is also $10. Shuttles from the Pendleton and Park Street garages will begin two hours prior to tip-off, and will be $3 roundtrip.
South Carolina Notables
South Carolina senior forward A’ja Wilson is one of three players in the country to rank among the nation’s top 50 in points per game, rebounds per game and blocks per game. Averaging fewer minutes per game than the other two players on all three lists — by 6.7 minutes and 15.7 minutes per game — she is also the only one of the three to play at least one game against a nationally ranked opponent
Anyone watching the Gamecock offense early this season will notice the fluid and constant movement of the ball throughout each possession. As South Carolina embraces the Staley philosophy that the ball will find who should shoot it, the Gamecocks are fourth in the SEC in assists per game (17.7) and have assisted on 56.4 percent of their made field goals so far this season, including 69.2 percent of its made baskets at Clemson (Nov. 16).
While Staley pushes her team to tighten up its defensive effort, the Gamecocks still rank 21st in the nation in field goal percentage defense. South Carolina has historically been a stingy defensive team under Staley, and since the start of the 2014-15 season, the Gamecocks have held an opponent under 30.0 percent field goal shooting 20 times with 48 other games limiting their opponent under 40.0 percent.
Senior transfer guard Lindsey Spann wasted little time establishing herself as a premier 3-point shooter in the SEC. After her 6-of-7 long-range shooting effort at Clemson (Nov. 16), she ranks second in the league with 4.0 made 3s per game and hitting 63.2 percent from beyond the arc.
Guard Bianca Jackson has found the most playing time of the Gamecocks’ freshman class, averaging 23.3 minutes per game with solid, well-rounded play that has her contributing 4.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
By the Numbers
3 Double-doubles this season by senior forward A’ja Wilson, which is tied for most in the nation
4 Wins away from 400 career coaching victories for Dawn Staley
4.0 Made 3s per game by Lindsey Spann, which ranks 24th in the nation
5.0 Assist-to-turnover ratio for freshman Bianca Jackson, which ranks third in the SEC
30.2 Percent field goal shooting by Gamecock opponents, ranking South Carolina 21st in the nation
Scouting the Terriers
Wofford is 1-1 this season behind led Preseason All-SoCon selection Chloe Wanink, a junior guard averaging 25.5 points early this season. Two other Terriers average double figures in Cairo Booker and Jamari McDavid, who each add 12.0 points per game, Junior forward Marissa Bayer is Wofford’s top rebounder at 8.5 per game. The Terriers opened the season with a dominant 104-57 win over Southern Wesleyan before traveling to SEC foe Georgia for a 95-56 defeat. Wofford is shooting 40.9 percent from the field, including 39.3 percent from 3-point range, this season, while allowing opponents to shoot 41.8 percent overall and 32.4 percent from outside the arc.
Land of the Three
Senior transfer Lindsey Spann brings solid experience and leadership to the Gamecocks’ young roster, but the biggest impact the 1,000-point scorer from Penn State will have will likely be from 3-point range. Claiming eighth place on the Lady Lions’ career made 3s list, the 5-foot-6 guard is off to a quick start from long range and is tied for the SEC lead with 4.0 made 3s per game. She is second in the league in 3-point field goal percentage, hitting 63.2 percent (12-of-19) from beyond the arc through three games. The Gamecocks have also benefitted from her unselfishness as Spann is willing to move the ball to find the best shot for the offense, not necessarily herself. She is also not glued to the 3-point line, shooting 6-of-8 from inside the arc this season as well. She is second on the team at 17.0 points per game (12th in the SEC) and leads the Gamecocks with 66.7 percent field goal shooting (4th in the SEC).
Steady Start
The daughter of two NCAA Div. I basketball coaches, freshman guard Bianca Jackson has shown all the poise and development attributed to such progeny. With that approach, the first-year guard has earned 23.3 minutes per game on the court early in her college career. Jackson has her head coach’s attention because of her ability to deliver solid play and contribute what the team needs when it is needed. She opened her career against her mother’s team, Alabama State, with eight points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Jackson was steady in a hostile environment at #15/13 Maryland (Nov. 13) and handed out seven assists in the rivalry game at Clemson (Nov. 16). The Montgomery, Ala., native is 15th in the SEC in assists per game (3.3) and third in assist-to-turnover ratio (5.0).
