Gamecocks Take Down Dayton 65-55
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 18/19 South Carolina women’s basketball muscled its way past Dayton 65-55 at Colonial Life Arena on Wednesday night. Junior guard Tyasha Harris scored a season-high 24 points in the victory, including 18 in the second half to lead the Gamecocks to the victory.
The Gamecocks fell behind in the opening quarter to the scrappy Flyers but held them scoreless for the next 7:11 to pull within one point in the second quarter. Mikiah Herbert Harrigan poured in four points during the resulting 12-0 run. Despite the 13-point deficit in the opening quarter, the Gamecocks clawed back to a 30-30 score at the half.
Harris stole the show in the third quarter, scoring 12 of the team’s 23 points to help take a two point lead heading into the final period. Harris broke the Gamecocks’ drought from beyond the arc, sinking a pair of 3-pointers, including one with 4:19 to go in the quarter to give South Carolina its first lead of the second half at 42-40. South Carolina kept the pressure on and entered the fourth quarter with a 53-51 lead.
In the fourth, defense set the tone for the Gamecocks. South Carolina allowed no points in the final 4:39 of regulation and a total of four points in the fourth quarter. Four straight points from Harris in the middle of the quarter helped separate the two teams at 59-55 with 3:48 remaining.
Herbert Harrigan kept the Flyers out of the paint with repeated stops, including a huge block with 3:05 to go in the game to keep the Gamecocks on top by five. Herbert Harrigan’s four blocks matches her career high that she first set against Clemson earlier this season.
A steal with 2:00 left was the biggest defensive play of the game for the Gamecocks. Leading by five, LeLe Grissett dove to the floor to force the 12th turnover for Dayton. After a timeout, Nelly Perry sank the Gamecocks’ third 3-pointer of the night for an eight point lead with just 1:31 remaining.
Harris notched a new season high in the victory, shooting 9-of-18 (.500), including 2-of-5 from beyond the arc. She added three rebounds and was a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe during her 18-point second half. Perry’s 10 points matches her season high.
GAMECHANGER
The Gamecocks allowed just four points in the final quarter, holding the Flyers to 1-of-13 (.076) shooting from the floor. The one field goal allowed matches a program low for a single quarter. The four points South Carolina allowed in the fourth quarter is tied for the second fewest in a quarter in program history.
QUOTABLE
“We also just attacked them offensively really well and Harris got hot in the second half,” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said. “She got it going and we went to some set plays. We also wanted to allow her to read the defense and get some open shots. We also tried to push them back on their heels by going quickly and seeing if they could guard us in the transition. I wanted Harris to push the ball and be aggressive and she did that. I think moving quickly in transition really helped us win the game.”
KEY STAT
South Carolina overmatched the Flyers on the glass, outrebounding Dayton 41-30, including 11 offensive, which led to eight second chance points and 32 points in the paint.
NOTABLES
- South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley now has a record of 9-3 against Dayton in her career – this win being her first at South Carolina.
- After outscoring Dayton in the paint 32-18, the Gamecocks are now 3-1 this season when they outscore their opponent in the paint.
- Scoring 24 in the win, South Carolina is now 26-3 all-time when Harris scores in double figures, including 3-1 this season.
- Harris’ 12 points in the third quarter marked the first time a Gamecock has scored in double figures in a quarter this season.
- The +11 rebound margin is a season high for the Gamecocks.
UP NEXT
The Gamecocks (4-3) remain home for the next two games at Colonial Life Arena, starting with Baylor on Sun., Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. South Carolina wraps up its three-game home stand on Dec. 5 against Appalachian State at 7 p.m.
