Women's Hoops Back at Home Thursday Night
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 4/4 South Carolina hosts Florida on Thu., Feb. 13, in a 7 p.m. tipoff at Colonial Life Arena. It is the Gamecocks’ annual Play 4Kay game in support of raising awareness about the fight against breast cancer.
Fan Information
- TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Road closures will affect traffic patterns around Colonial Life Arena Sunday. Greene Street will be closed from Park to Lincoln, and Lincoln Street will be closed from Devine to Greene.
- Single-game parking in lots immediately around Colonial Life Arena will be $20 per car as mandated by the University.
- All doors at Colonial Life Arena will open at 6 p.m. The Fast Break Pass entrance will open at 5:30 p.m.
Gamecock Notables
South Carolina’s offense has thrived at home with the Gamecocks shooting 49.4 percent from the field for 84.4 points per game in 11 outings at Colonial Life Arena, including four games against top-15 opponents. For the season, South Carolina is 18th in the nation in scoring (80.3 ppg) and 24th in field goal percentage (.467).
The Gamecocks are atop the NET rankings and have the lowest opponent average NET (65). Their NET non-conference strength of schedule is ranked eighth, and their 16 Quad 1 games lead the nation. South Carolina is 10-2 so far in those games with their 10 wins leading the nation.
South Carolina’s bench has scored at least half of the team’s total points in 14 games this season, including six games against ranked opponents and six SEC games. Its season high came at Missouri to open SEC action, accounting for 68.7 percent of the team’s 83 points.
Of the Gamecocks’ 24 games this season, 12 have been decided by 30 or more points – all wins. Three were against ranked teams (Iowa State, TCU, Oklahoma) and four were in SEC action. Just three games have been decided by single digits – +6 vs. Michigan, +7 at Tennessee, -4 at Texas.
Sophomore MiLaysia Fulwiley has had her steady, all-court game on full display over the last two weeks, averaging 13.5 points, 2.25 assists and 2.0 steals over her last four outings. She has led the team in scoring each of the last two games and is the team’s top scorer over the last three games with 14.3 points per game in that stretch.
Raven Johnson ranks fourth in the nation with her 3.32 assist-to-turnover ratio, including an SEC-best 3.80 in league play. The veteran point guard has turned it over just five times in the last five games, including a turnover-free outing at Tennessee and just one at Texas. She also shot 40.0 percent from the field in that five-game stretch to go with 4.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
Chloe Kitts’ offense has been steady over the last four games, adding 10.75 points per game on 57.6 percent shooting. She has been the team’s top rebounder a team-high 12 times this season, including six games against ranked teams.
By the Numbers
8.0 – Bree Hall averaged 8.0 points over the last three games, including 6-of-12 shooting from 3-point range.
16 – Joyce Edwards has been the team’s top scorer a team-high 16 games this season, including four against ranked opponents.
34.6 – South Carolina allows opponents to shoot just 34.6 percent from the field, which ranks sixth in the nation.
The Florida Series
The Gamecocks are 24-20 all-time against the Gators with a 16-4 mark in the Dawn Staley era (beginning 2008-09), including a 16-game win streak.
In last season’s lone matchup (Jan. 4, 2024), the Gamecocks stormed out to an early lead in Gainesville (32-15 after the first quarter) en route to their89-66 victory. South Carolina shot 50.0 percent from the field with five players finishing in double figures.
Home Sweet Home
The Gamecocks are 541-166 (.765) in home games (some records prior to 1976-77 did not include location of games). Current head coach Dawn Staley is 229-34 at home for a program-best .871 winning percentage.
South Carolina currently has a program and SEC-record 70-game home winning streak that began on Dec. 17, 2020, which is fourth in NCAA history (3rd, 82, Stanford).
Playing in its 23rd season at Colonial Life Arena, South Carolina boasts a 292-67 (.813) record in the building, including four undefeated seasons since 2013-14. Staley’s share of that record is 226-34 (.869).
In SEC action, South Carolina is 154-89 (.634) at home with Staley posting a 110-22 (.833) mark.
Block Party
South Carolina annually ranks among the best shot blocking teams in the country, and, with every Gamecock recording at least one block this season, they are continuing the tradition. Even without a dominant center and the loss of top shot blocker Ashlyn Watkins to injury, the Gamecocks are fourth in the nation with 6.0 blocks per game, including 2.1 per game from guards.
Senior Sania Feagin is sixth in the SEC with a team-high 1.6 blocks per game, including 2.1 in SEC play, which ranks second the league. MiLaysia Fulwiley is the league’s top shot-blocking guard in conference play, ranking 10th in the league with 1.0 blocks per SEC game.
Dial Up the Defense
Head coach Dawn Staley has always put a premium on defense, and this year’s team has kept that tradition while facing one of the toughest schedules in the nation.
The Gamecocks are 6th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 55.8 points per game, and have allowed just 58.6 points per game against ranked opponents. The defense has allowed more than 70 points just twice and has held its opponent under 60 point 14 times, including six ranked foes.
Ranking fourth in the nation in blocks per game (6.0), the Gamecocks have allowed opponents to shoot just 34.6 percent from the field, which ranks sixth in the nation.
