Gamecocks Head to Clemson Wednesday for Palmetto Series Matchup

COLUMBIA, S.C. –No. 1/1 South Carolina plays at Clemson Wednesday night for the women’s basketball point in the Palmetto Series presented by South Carolina Education Lottery.

Gamecock Notables

• A win tonight would be South Carolina’s 43rd consecutive (beginning Nov. 6, 2024), breaking the program record for winning streak. It would be the seventh-best mark in NCAA Div. I history. The Gamecocks’ first 42-game streak ran March 18, 2022, through March 27, 2023. South Carolina is just the second program in NCAA history with multiple 40-game win streaks.

• Five Gamecocks are shooting at least 50.0 percent from the field this season, led by Chloe Kitts’ 58.8 percent accuracy, which ranks seventh in the SEC.

• South Carolina’s bench is 14th in the nation with 37.0 points per game, which accounts for 45.4 percent of the total offense. The Gamecock bench has out-scored its counterparts by 22.5 points per game.

• The Gamecocks’ 40 points off turnovers against East Carolina on Sunday were the program’s most since posting 41 against Duke on Dec. 19, 2019. For the season, South Carolina averages 22.5 points off turnovers while allowing opponents to score just 9.0 per game.

• South Carolina is 15th in the nation with 17.75 offensive rebounds per game, which it turns into 17.0 points per game.

• The Gamecocks shook off a season of slow starts on Sunday against East Carolina, leading by double digits after the first quarter for the first time this season and then more than doubling their advantage by the end of the second.

• Three players have led the team in scoring at least once this season and eight have scored in double figures at least once.

• Junior Chloe Kitts is averaging a double-double with 17.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game with her two double-doubles ranking 13th in the NCAA.

• Sophomore MiLaysia Fulwiley shook off a tough season opener and has averaged 17.7 points per game on 58.3 percent (21-of-36) shooting in the three games since.

• Senior Te-Hina Paopao continues to deliver in all aspects of the game, leading the team with 4.00 assists per game (9th in the SEC) and 13.5 points per game. She is shooting 56.1 percent from the field, including 44.4 percent from the arc.

By the Numbers
6 – Six Gamecocks average at least 7.0 points this season, including four averaging double figures.

13 – South Carolina has 13 games scheduled against team in this week’s AP Top 25, which would be the most in program history.

50.7 – The Gamecocks have shot 50.7 percent from the field over the last three games

The Clemson Series
This in-state rivalry dates back to the Gamecocks’ first official season of intercollegiate women’s sports – 1975-76.

South Carolina’s current 13-game win streak finally put the Gamecocks on top in the series 35-33. In the Dawn Staley era (beginning in 2008-09), South Carolina is 13-2.

In last season’s 109-40 victory in Columbia (Nov. 16, 2023), the Gamecocks dominated right out of the gate, outscoring the Tigers 31-6 in the first quarter and 31-9 in the second. Six Gamecocks finished the game in double figures, and Raven Johnson handed out 17 assists to fall just one short of the program record.

Road Ready
The Gamecocks are 311-260 (.545) all-time in road games (some records prior to 1976-77 did not include location of games), including a 136-46 mark (.747) under head coach Dawn Staley, giving her the best road winning percentage in program history.

The Gamecocks’ current 32-game road win streak is the third-longest in NCAA Div. I history.

Glass Work
South Carolina has long dominated the glass with a full team rebounding effort. After an uncharacteristic effort on the boards in the season opener, the Gamecocks have returned to form, rising to 23rd in the nation with 46.0 rebounds per game.

South Carolina’s 17.8 offensive rebounds per game rank 15th in the nation, and its 44.4 offensive rebounding percent is 12th.

Six Gamecocks average at least four rebounds on the season with junior Chloe Kitts leading the way at 10.3 to rank 31st in the nation. Raven Johnson is second with 5.8 boards per game, including 10 offensive rebounds.

Let Us Re-Joyce
The No. 3 recruit in the 2024 signing class, according to espnW, forward Joyce Edwards has been as advertised with her athleticism and intellect allowing her to play multiple positions already.

The National Gatorade Player of the Year dominated the Gamecocks’ exhibition games, leading the team with 19.5 points and 11.5 rebounds. In her official college debut, her 10 points and seven rebounds against Michigan included a clutch defensive rebound and a pair of free throws all in the final 13 seconds to close out the win.

Early in the season, Edwards has been aggressive on the glass, grabbing 5.0 rebounds per game to rank third on the team, and her 10.0 points per game are fourth.