Mississippi State could not quite pass its first test in Southeastern Conference play, coming up short in a five-point home defeat against a much-improved Vanderbilt team. Next up is the ultimate challenge — a visit to No. 1 South Carolina on Sunday.
The Gamecocks won the national championship in 2022 and were poised to repeat last year, carrying a perfect record into the Final Four before losing to Iowa in the national semifinals. With superstars Aliyah Boston and Zia Cooke departing for the WNBA, many expected a regression this season from South Carolina, but if anything, head coach Dawn Staley’s team has only gotten better.
After defeating Florida on the road in their SEC opener, the Gamecocks (13-0, 1-0) lead all of women’s college basketball in field goal percentage defense at an absurd 28.8 percent. South Carolina also blocks 9.5 shots per game, more than two full blocks above any other team in Division I.
The Gamecocks are also third nationally in field goal percentage offense, 3-point percentage and rebounding margin and in the top 10 in both points scored and allowed per game.
South Carolina is doing all this without one dominant scorer. 6-foot-7-inch center Kamilla Cardoso leads the Gamecocks with 13.6 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, with point guard Te-Hina Paopao, a transfer from Oregon, averaging 12.4 points and shooting an incredible 55.6 percent from 3-point range (35-for-63).
Sixth woman MiLaysia Fulwiley, a freshman, is also in double figures, as is sophomore Chloe Kitts. Bree Hall and defensive specialist Raven Johnson fill out the starting lineup, and with most of South Carolina’s games being blowouts, only Johnson has played more than 25 minutes per contest.
Here are three keys to victory for the Bulldogs (13-3, 0-1) as they try to pull off the monumental upset.
Keep the first quarter close
If MSU can stay within an arm’s length early on, the Bulldogs’ confidence will only grow. They’ll need to shoot better from long range than they did in the loss to the Commodores — Jerkaila Jordan and Debreasha Powe were a combined 2-for-12 from behind the arc Thursday night. If the shots are falling — no easy task against the best field goal percentage defense in the country — MSU could at least hang around for a while. The Bulldogs did play the Gamecocks tight last year, falling 58-51 in Starkville.
Limit the turnovers
South Carolina is middle-of-the-pack when it comes to forcing turnovers, but the Gamecocks are lethal in transition — and transition defense is among MSU’s greatest weaknesses. If the Bulldogs are going to turn the ball over, they need to at least keep the live-ball turnovers at a minimum. If South Carolina can get out on the fast break repeatedly, this could be a laugher.
Stay out of foul trouble
Cardoso, Ashlyn Watkins and the rest of the Gamecocks’ frontcourt players are going to try to draw fouls on the likes of Jessika Carter and Erynn Barnum, forcing their way to the basket and to the free throw line if need be. Carter, Barnum and Quanirah Montague, in order to hold their own against South Carolina’s size, will need to be aggressive without fouling, a tough line to tread. If Carter, in particular, needs to spend significant time on the bench, the Gamecocks may run away with this one.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 28 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 28 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
Join the Discussion