Women's Hoops Back in Action Sunday

Gameday Information
Doors Open: 11 a.m. | 10:15 a.m. for Fast Break Pass
Chalk Talk: Open to season ticket holders via College Street Entrance (10:20 a.m.)
Promotion: Free Concessions

South Carolina Gamecocks (12-1)
Head Coach: Dawn Staley
Top Scorer: Joyce Edwards (22.0)
Top Rebounder: Madina Okot (11.1)

Providence Friars (8-5)
Head Coach: Erin Batth
Top Scorer: Sabou Gueye (13.9)
Top Rebounder: Teneisia Brown (7.5)

Gamecock Notables

• South Carolina’s offense is among the most potent in the country this season, ranking fourth in the NCAA with 92.6 points per game and second in field goal percentage at .544. Madina Okot (.641) and Joyce Edwards (.628) lead the SEC in field goal percentage and rank eighth and ninth in the nation, respectively. South Carolina is 15th in the nation with a .381 3-point field goal percentage as well, highlighted by SEC-leader Tessa Johnson’s 47.3 percent accuracy.

• The Gamecock defense is finding its full potential as well, allowing just 52.9 points per game (12th in NCAA) and holding opponents to 31.4 percent shooting (4th in NCAA).

• South Carolina’s paint dominance is an annual tradition, and this season’s team is second in the nation with 54.2 paint points per game, including tying the program record for paint points in a game (74) in each of their last two outings.  The Gamecocks are shooting 66.0 percent in the paint.

• South Carolina is ranked second in the NET this week with a schedule that includes 2 Quad 1 games. The Gamecocks lead the SEC in opponent average NET ranking (42).

• National player of the year candidate Joyce Edwards is making a strong case to become a favorite for the title with her scoring (22.0 ppg) and efficiency (.628 FG%) ranking 10th and ninth in the nation, respectively. The Gamecocks’ second-leading rebounder at 6.2 rpg, she is also a menace defensively, ranking seventh in the SEC with 1.6 blocks per game and 12th with 2.1 steals per game. Edwards finished the semester strong, averaging 29.3 points on 76.9 percent shooting and 7.3 rebounds over the last four games.

• Preseason AP All-American Ta’Niya Latson is finding her footing with the Gamecocks, ranking second on the team in scoring (17.4 ppg, 9th in SEC) and assists (4.0 apg, 12th in SEC). Her shooting percentages are the best of her career as is her 1.08 points per possession. Combining her 17.4 points per game with the additional 9.1 scored off her assists, Latson has her hands on 28.6 percent of the Gamecocks’ offense.

• Senior forward Madina Okot is embracing her ability to be dominant in any game, ranking second in the NCAA in double-doubles (8), fifth in field goal percentage (.641), eighth in rebounding (11.1) and 26th in offensive rebounding (3.8).

By the Numbers
3 – Three Gamecocks rank among the SEC’s top 20 scorers this season.

5 – The Gamecocks have posted at least 12 wins before the start of SEC play for the last five seasons.

7 – South Carolina is among the nation’s top 10 in seven statistical categories, including four top-5 entries.

The Providence Series
The Gamecocks and Friars have never met in women’s basketball. There is a connection between the programs, though, via PC assistant coach Valerie Nainima who played two seasons at South Carolina. She earned Second-Team All-SEC recognition in 2009-10 as the Gamecocks’ leading scorer and one of the nation’s top 3-point percentage shooters. She holds the program record for made 3s in SEC play (48 in 2009-10) and ranks ninth in program history in career 3-point percentage (.338).

Home Sweet Home
The Gamecocks are 553-168 (.767) in home games (some records prior to 1976-77 did not include location of games). Current head coach Dawn Staley is 241-35 at home for a program-best .873 winning percentage.

Playing in its 24th season at Colonial Life Arena, South Carolina boasts a 304-68 (.817) record in the building, including four undefeated seasons since 2013-14. Staley’s share of that record is 238-35 (.872).

Schedule Sketch
South Carolina’s schedule continues to challenge and prepare the team for the postseason. This year’s slate features 12 games against teams ranked in the current top 25 – five home, five road and two neutral sites. Four of the 10 games are against teams in the top 10.

The non-conference schedule is highlighted by three ranked matchups – vs. #8/10 Southern Cal (W, 69-52), vs. #4/4 Texas (L, 64-66) and at #22/21 Louisville (W, 79-77).

In the NET rankings, South Carolina is ranked second and has 12 Quad 1 games on the schedule, including four non-conference matchups. The Gamecocks lead the SEC in the NET rankings and have the best average opponent NET ranking (42).

Block Party
The Gamecocks have been a premier shot blocking program since their first national championship in 2017. They ranked in the top 15 in blocks per game that season and have only climbed higher in the eight subsequent seasons, including four years leading the nation in the stat and twice coming in second. Beyond the number of blocks, their block percentage has led the nation three seasons.

This season, South Carolina is sixth in the nation with 6.8 blocks per game, including 4.3 against ranked opponents. The Gamecocks have blocked 16.6 percent of opponents’ 2-point attempts, which ranks sixth in the nation, according to Her Hoop Stats.

Joyce Edwards tops the individual list with 1.62 blocks per game to rank seventh in the SEC. Madina Okot is just behind at 1.58 per game (8th SEC). Gamecock guards have added 2.3 blocks per game to the team’s average.