Women's Hoops Hosts East Carolina Sunday

COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 1/1 South Carolina will play in front of its first sold out crowd of the season Sunday when the Gamecocks host East Carolina for a 2 p.m. tipoff at Colonial Life Arena.

FAN INFORMATION

• Single-game parking in lots immediate around Colonial Life Arena will be $20 per car as mandated by the University.
• Because this game is a sellout, doors will open at 12:30 p.m. (Noon for Fast Break Pass holders).

Gamecock Notables

• The FAMS never disappoint, and their turnout for the home opener Thursday night – 15,550 – made it the highest attended game in the NCAA so far this season. Today’s game will top that as the first of five sellouts already announced for this season.

• With a win today, South Carolina would tie its program record for consecutive victories at 42, which is tied for seventh-best in NCAA Div. I history. The Gamecocks’ first 42-game streak ran March 18, 2022, through March 27, 2023. The current 41-game streak began on Nov. 6, 2024.

• The Gamecocks have shaken off their uncharacteristic season opener to shoot 50.8 percent over the last two games, which includes a top-10 win over then-#9/8 NC State (Nov. 10).

• South Carolina ranks 18th in the nation in rebounding average (47.7) and is in the top 30 in rebounding margin (27th, +14.3) and offensive rebounds per game (29th, 17.0).

• Junior Chloe Kitts is averaging a double-double this season with 19.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game while shooting a team-high 62.5 percent from the field.

• Sophomore MiLaysia Fulwiley has been filling it up since the Gamecocks came back to the East Coast, averaging 15.5 points on 63.0 percent shooting over the last two games, including an 18-point outing against #9/8 NC State last Sunday.

• Senior Te-Hina Paopao continues to be a do-it-all guard for the Gamecocks, ranking among the SEC’s top 10 in 3-point shooting – percentage (.438) and made 3s per game (2.33) – and assist-to-turnover ratio (3.0) while sitting 17th in scoring at 15.0 points per game. Those numbers go up dramatically when factoring out a tough-shooting season opener with her averaging 18.0 points on 60.0 percent (15-of-25) shooting, including 50.0 percent (6-lof-12) from 3-point range, over the last two games.

By the Numbers

3 – Three different players have led the Gamecocks in scoring in the season’s first three games.

+20.0 – South Carolina’s bench has out-scored its counterparts by 20.0 points per game (34.3 – 14.3)

+21.5 – After a tough rebounding effort in the season opener, the Gamecocks have out-rebounded their last two opponents by 21.5 per game.

The East Carolina Series
The Gamecocks hold a 16-1 edge in the series against East Carolina with the lone loss coming in the inaugural game of the series in the 1974-75 season.

The two teams have met twice in South Carolina’s Dawn Staley era, including last season’s 73-36 Gamecock win in Greenville (Dec. 30, 2023). Columbia’s own MiLaysia Fulwiley and Ashlyn Watkins led the way with 12 and 11 points, respectively, as South Carolina posted a 73-36 victory. The win was a dominant defensive performance as the Pirates shot just 19.4 percent from the field.

Home Sweet Home
The Gamecocks are 531-165 (.763) in home games (some records prior to 1976-77 did not include location of games). Current head coach Dawn Staley is 219-34 at home for a program-best .866 winning percentage.

South Carolina currently has a program-record 60-game home winning streak that began on Dec. 17, 2020.

Playing in its 22nd season at Colonial Life Arena, South Carolina boasts a 282-67 (.808) record in the building, including four undefeated seasons since 2013-14. Staley’s share of that record is 216-34 (.864).

CK Obsession
Forward Chloe Kitts showed flashes of her potential throughout her sophomore season, and, after an offseason of focusing on building her strength as much as her skills, she has exploded into her junior campaign.

She is the Gamecocks’ top scorer and rebounder, averaging a double-double with 19.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. Her two double-doubles in as many outings rank her seventh in the nation. Her .625 field goal percentage leads the team as well.

After starting  31 games last season, Kitts held her position again this season, leading the Gamecocks with 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting against Michigan. Her career-high tying 14 rebounds included five offensive, and she scored immediately on three of those.