Top-25 Women's Hoops Showdown Sunday
#5/6 SOUTH CAROLINA (11-1) VS #25/21 SOUTH DAKOTA (11-1)
NOON | COLUMBIA, S.C. | COLONIAL LIFE ARENA (18,000)
South Carolina Game Notes | WATCH: SECN+ | LISTEN: 107.5 FM | Live Stats | Media Availability
ABOUT THIS GAME
- The Gamecocks and Coyotes have never met in women’s basketball.
- Today’s game is the Gamecocks’ fourth against a nationally ranked opponent. South Carolina is 2-1 against ranked foes with both wins coming over teams ranked in the top five at the time of the game.
- The South Carolina bench will have a different fashion sense for this game as they join fans in donning their Ugly Holiday Sweaters for the final game ahead of the holiday break.
- Other holiday-related activities around the game include cookie cutters in the shape of the state of South Carolina for the first 500 fans, an ornament decoration station on the concourse and free photos with Santa in the McGuire Club.
PARKING INFORMATION
- Parking is available for $10 per vehicle in the Discovery Garage and the City Garage (located near Pendleton, Park and Lincoln Streets). (See parking map here)
- FREE parking is available in the Pendleton Street Garage (corner of Pickens and Pendleton). The shuttle from that location, which departs and returns to Pickens Street, begins two hours before tipoff and runs until one hour after the game ends. (See campus and shuttle map here)
GAMECOCK NOTABLES
- In the season’s first three games against nationally ranked opponents, South Carolina has enjoyed a +12.7 rebounding margin. Freshman Aliyah Boston was the team’s top scorer, averaging 14.7 points on 71.4 percent shooting. Seniors Tyasha Harris (12.7 ppg) and Mikiah Herbert Harrigan (11.3 ppg) also average double-figure scoring in those games.
- South Carolina’s defense has been especially aggressive the last two games, forcing Purdue and Duke into a combined 49 turnovers, including collecting 31 steals. Gamecocks at every position have gotten in on the action with seven recording at least three steals over the two games, led by five each from Laeticia Amihere, Brea Beal and Tyasha Harris.
- The Gamecock offense’s aggression shows up beyond the 42.8 points in the paint per game. South Carolina is 10th in the nation in both free throws made (171) and attempts (261).
- In the last five games, senior point guard Tyasha Harris has been on a tear. She led the team with 14.6 points per game (including two 20-point games) on 42.6 percent shooting while handing out 5.0 assists and swiping 2.8 steals per game.
- Junior LeLe Grissett has thrived in the post-exams schedule, scoring 11.5 points per game on 9-of-12 shooting over the last two games. She has added 11 rebounds, three steals and three blocks in the stretch as well.
- Senior Mikiah Herbert Harrigan has been showing off her 3-point shooting this season, especially in the last four games, hitting 4-of-5 from beyond the arc in that stretch.
- Redshirt freshman Laeticia Amihere’s versatility has been on full display in the last two games as she has posted 4.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals, 2.0 assists and 1.5 blocks per game.
BY THE NUMBERS
2 South Carolina has allowed an opponent to score 60 or more points just twice this season.
6 South Carolina ranks sixth in the nation in scoring margin (+29.6).
11.2 South Carolina has out-scored opponents in the first quarter by 11.2 points this season, and the Gamecocks have yet to trail an opponent after the opening period.
28.8 Of the Gamecocks’ 81.7 ppg, 28.8 percent runs through senior Tyasha Harris. In addition to her own career-high 12.3 ppg, her assists have led to 11.3 ppg.
41 South Carolina scored 41 points off 30 Duke turnovers Thursday night.
33.0 The Gamecock bench has scored 33.0 points per game over the last two outings.
