Border Battle at Georgia Sunday
#1/2 SOUTH CAROLINA (18-1) VS GEORGIA (12-7)
3 P.M. | ATHENS, GA. | STEGEMAN COLISEUM
South Carolina Game Notes // WATCH: SEC Network // LISTEN: 107.5 The Game // Live Stats // Media Availability
ABOUT THIS GAME
- Georgia leads the all-time series 33-17, but the Gamecocks have won the last 10 meetings and hold a 13-6 edge in the Dawn Staley era.
- The Gamecocks are looking to improve to 7-0 in SEC play for the first time since the 2016-17 season, which began 8-0 before finishing with the SEC regular-season title at 14-2.
- Tyasha Harris is five assists away from tying the program record for career assists – 615 by Cristina Ciocan (2001-04). She has already joined Ciocan as the only Gamecocks to amass 1,000 points and 600 assists in her career.
GAMECOCK NOTABLES
- Playing one of the most challenging schedules in the country, South Carolina has answered the bell at every turn. The Gamecocks’ six wins over ranked opponents are the most in the country as are their eight wins over top-50 RPI teams. The most recent challenge came Monday night against #9/9 Mississippi State when Carolina trailed by nine with eight minutes to play – their first multiple-possession deficit in SEC play. Freshmen Aliyah Boston and Zia Cooke combined for 12 points in the rally back, and senior Tyasha Harris finished off the win by scoring the last five points in a hectic scramble to the final buzzer.
- South Carolina’s balance has given opponents fits this season. On the season, 56.5 percent of the Gamecocks’ scoring has come from the guards (43.5 percent from forwards). Those numbers are even closer in SEC action – 54.0 percent from guards, 46.0 percent from forwards.
- Freshman Brea Beal may be the only Gamecock starter not averaging double-figure points, but do not underestimate her impact on a game. In SEC play, she is 10th in rebounds per game (7.3) and seventh in steals per game (2.0) and offensive rebounds per game (2.7) – helping the Gamecocks to 20.0 second-chance points in league play.
- Forward Aliyah Boston was named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Midseason Team this week. She is the only freshman on the list. Boston is also on the Lisa Leslie and Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Watch Lists and the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25.
- Senior Mikiah Herbert Harrigan has settled into the consistent play her coaches have been looking for. The forward has scored in double figures in five of six SEC games with 13-15 points in each of the last four games, while pulling down six boards in two of those games and blocking two shots in each of the last three.
BY THE NUMBERS
4 Four of the Gamecocks’ five starters rank among the SEC’s top 26 in scoring average in league play – more than any other team.
6 South Carolina ranks among the nation’s top 10 in six stats – bpg (1st), scoring margin (3rd), rpg (3rd), ppg (5th), reb. margin (5th) and FG% defense (7th).
7 Seven different Gamecocks have led or ties for the team lead in scoring at least once this season. Zia Cooke leads the way with eight, including five in SEC play.
11 At least five Gamecocks have scored in double figures in 11 games this season, including seven games with six in double digits.
13.3 South Carolina has out-scored its SEC opponents in the paint by 13.3 points per game.
23 Tyasha Harris’ 23 points were the most by a Gamecock in SEC play this season. She scored 10 in the 1st quarter and the last five of the game to deliver the win.
