Women's Basketball . November 16, 2021

Gamecocks Set for Home Opener Wednesday

South Carolina will celebrate the 2020-21 team's accomplishments before tipoff.

GAME DAY PARKING NOTES

Please note that several events on Wednesday night will affect traffic and parking in the area of Colonial Life Arena.
Basketball games will require $10 for event parking as the Koger Center hosts “Broadway in Columbia.”
Fans park in Pendleton Street Garage for $10 per car and ride the shuttle to and from Colonial Life Arena to avoid traffic.

GAMECOCK NOTABLES

Prior to tonight’s game, South Carolina will celebrate its 2021-22 accomplishments by distributing rings and unveiling banners to recognize the program’s sixth SEC Tournament title and third trip to the NCAA Final Four.
Tonight’s game is the home opener for South Carolina, which is 25-7 all-time in home openers, including an 11-2 mark under head coach Dawn Staley. The Gamecocks have won their last 10 home openers and are 17-2 in home openers played in Colonial Life Arena
The home opener is a great time to remind everyone that South Carolina fans have led the nation in average attendance for each of last seven seasons, including the limited-attendance 2020-21 season. This season, the Gamecocks have sold over 10,100 season tickets, putting them on track to retain the title
South Carolina’s depth has shown in bench production so far this season. Through two games, the bench is averaging 23.0 points per game to account for 33.3 percent of the offense. Last season, the bench averaged 17.3 points per game for 22.9 percent of the offense
Senior Destanni Henderson continues to be the engine that powers the Gamecock offense. She leads the team with 14.5 points per game and 5.0 assists per game. Those numbers rank 14th and fourth, respectively in the SEC. She has shot 56.3 percent from the field, including a sterling 66.7 percent from 3-point range (4-of-6).
Junior Aliyah Boston continues to garner a lion’s share of opponents’ attention on defense, but teams have not been able to slow her down as much defensively as she leads the nation with 4.5 blocks per game.

BY THE NUMBERS
3 – South Carolina is third in the nation in blocks per game (9.5) with three Gamecocks ranked among the SEC’s top 15 – Boston, Saxton, Beal.

47 – South Carolina has had 10,000 or more fans at Colonial Life Arena in 47 consecutive games.

70.8 – Through two games this season, the Gamecocks are shooting 70.8 percent in the paint (34-of-48).

NOTES

The Clemson Series
South Carolina has won the last 10 meetings, but Clemson leads the overall series 33-32. The Gamecocks’ 10 straight victories have all come by double digits.

The Gamecocks hold a 20-11 overall advantage in games played in Columbia, winning the last five meetings at Colonial Life Arena.

The most recent meetings between the rivals went to South Carolina, 84-48, at Littlejohn Coliseum on Nov. 24, 2019. Six Gamecocks scored in double figures as South Carolina opened with a 20-9 advantage after the first quarter and never looked back.

The last game at Colonial Life Arena was on Nov. 15, 2018, resulting in a 69-57 South Carolina victory. Four Gamecocks on the current roster played in that game – LeLe Grissett, Destanni Henderson, Victaria Saxton, Elysa Wesolek.

Home Sweet Home
The Gamecocks are 479-165 (.744) all-time in home games, including a 167-34 mark under head coach Dawn Staley. Her .831 winning percentage at home is second among the program’s seven all-time head coaches (Pam Parsons (41-7) .854).

Playing in its 19th season at Colonial Life Arena, South Carolina boasts a 230-67 (.774) record in the building, including three undefeated seasons since 2013-14. Staley’s share of that record is 164-34 (.828).

Paint Production
South Carolina has long dominated the paint on both ends of the court. This season Staley has challenged her team to be more efficient in the paint as well, especially in transition.

Through two games, the Gamecocks average 34.0 points in the paint, accounting for 49.3 percent of their total offense, and have scored them on 34-of-48 shooting (.708). Post players have accounted for 21.0 of those 34.0 paint points per game.

Great Gamecock Fans
South Carolina fans have led the nation in average attendance in each of the last seven seasons,. With over 10,100 season tickets sold this season – the most since 10,221 were out in 2016-17 – that streak looks to continue for another year.

Excluding the COVID limited-attendance season of 2019-20, South Carolina has drawn at least 10,000 fans in 47 consecutive games dating back to the Nov. 10, 2017, season opener. In regular-season action (excluding NCAA Tournament games), the streak stretches to 82 games beginning on Jan. 2, 2015.