Beautiful GAME... COCKS! Kentucky came to play but they could only last 3 quarters before cracking.
2024-2025 WBB Team (2022-present)
- Thread starter TN-Gamecock
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Another SEC road game that started out ugly for the Gamecocks, that turned into a straight route win, as the Gamecocks beat Kentucky 95-66 to improve to 17-0, 5-0.
Kentucky (8-9, 0-5) came into the game outside of the top 100 in most all offensive or defensive categories. But this is a SEC rivalry series for both teams: Kentucky and South Carolina play each other twice every year, moreso than against other SEC teams (perhaps Georgia too), and it has been a heated rivalry going back to the Matthew Mitchell days - even before Mississippi State and Missouri rose up to get the Gamecocks' ire.
But the Wildcats opened up very strong and aggressive on both ends of the court: the Gamecocks opened at a torrid pace, shooting for 64% from the field, but the Wildcats stayed close, only behind by 3 points 20-17 at the end of the 1st Period.
They would stay on the Gamecocks' heels through the next 2 periods - the Gamecocks out-scored the Wildcats in each quarter, but only by meager margins - 17-16 in the 2nd, and 22-18 in the 3rd. There were large scoring runs for both teams: after a short jumper from Cardoso extended the Gamecocks lead to 7 20-13 late in the 1st Period, the Wildcats went on a 16-0 run to take the lead 29-20 at the 7-minute mark of the 2nd Period.
The Kentucky lead grew to 10 pts 31-21 with 5 minutes to play in the 1st half, until the Gamecocks responded with a 16-0 run of their own, to reclaim the lead 37-31 with mere seconds left in the half. UK would score in the final second and the Gamecocks led in a tight battle 37-33 at the halftime.
The Gamecocks shot 57% in the 1st half, so they certainly were shooting better than in their previous game at Mississippi State. But the Wildcats were relentless, and continued to attack behind the scoring of Maddie Scherr and Jada Walker, who had 28 of Kentucky's 33 1st half points on 12-19 shooting. The Gamecocks likewise got the majority of their scoring before half from Boston and Cooke, who combined to shoot 12-18 themselves for 28 of their team's 37 total pts. But the 1st half was very contentious, and while the Gamecocks lead the league in rebounds per game, and the Wildcats are nowhere close to doing so, rebounds were tied at the half, 16-16, and 2nd chance points also tied at 8-8.
In the 2nd half, the Gamecocks turned up the offensive heat: in the 3rd Period, they shot 60% 6-10 from the field, while holding the Wildcats to 38.1% shooting. But they only out-scored Kentucky 22-18, due to the Wildcats getting that 38.1% shooting by shooting 8-21, more than doubling the Gamecocks' shot attempts for the quarter. The Gamecocks had 4 turnovers in the period that hamstrung their offensive output. The Wildcats meanwhile were called for fouls that sent the Gamecocks to the free throw line 10 times, of which they converted on 9 of them.
In the 4th Period, the game was blown open, disguising just how fiercely competitive it was. The Gamecocks out-scored the Wildcats 36-15 in the final stanza, shooting 13-17 (76.5%) and 10-13 (76.9%) from the charity stripe, as Kentucky continued to foul to try to slow down the Gamecock scoring. Overall in the 2nd half, South Carolina out-scored Kentucky 58-33, shooting 19-27 (70.4%) from the field, and 19-23 (82.6%) from the line.
Boston led the Gamecocks with 21 pts on 9-11 shooting, with 11 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 3 assists. Cooke added 20 pts on 8-14 shooting, with 3 assists and 2 rebounds. Cardoso added in 12 pts on 5-8 shooting, with 4 rebounds, and Amihere chipped in 11 pts on 3-7 shooting, with 3 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Red-shirt Freshman PG Raven Johnson continues to show strong improvement in her game, coming off the bench to add 9 pts on 4-4 shooting, with a team-leading 7 assists and 3 steals....
Kentucky (8-9, 0-5) came into the game outside of the top 100 in most all offensive or defensive categories. But this is a SEC rivalry series for both teams: Kentucky and South Carolina play each other twice every year, moreso than against other SEC teams (perhaps Georgia too), and it has been a heated rivalry going back to the Matthew Mitchell days - even before Mississippi State and Missouri rose up to get the Gamecocks' ire.
But the Wildcats opened up very strong and aggressive on both ends of the court: the Gamecocks opened at a torrid pace, shooting for 64% from the field, but the Wildcats stayed close, only behind by 3 points 20-17 at the end of the 1st Period.
They would stay on the Gamecocks' heels through the next 2 periods - the Gamecocks out-scored the Wildcats in each quarter, but only by meager margins - 17-16 in the 2nd, and 22-18 in the 3rd. There were large scoring runs for both teams: after a short jumper from Cardoso extended the Gamecocks lead to 7 20-13 late in the 1st Period, the Wildcats went on a 16-0 run to take the lead 29-20 at the 7-minute mark of the 2nd Period.
The Kentucky lead grew to 10 pts 31-21 with 5 minutes to play in the 1st half, until the Gamecocks responded with a 16-0 run of their own, to reclaim the lead 37-31 with mere seconds left in the half. UK would score in the final second and the Gamecocks led in a tight battle 37-33 at the halftime.
The Gamecocks shot 57% in the 1st half, so they certainly were shooting better than in their previous game at Mississippi State. But the Wildcats were relentless, and continued to attack behind the scoring of Maddie Scherr and Jada Walker, who had 28 of Kentucky's 33 1st half points on 12-19 shooting. The Gamecocks likewise got the majority of their scoring before half from Boston and Cooke, who combined to shoot 12-18 themselves for 28 of their team's 37 total pts. But the 1st half was very contentious, and while the Gamecocks lead the league in rebounds per game, and the Wildcats are nowhere close to doing so, rebounds were tied at the half, 16-16, and 2nd chance points also tied at 8-8.
In the 2nd half, the Gamecocks turned up the offensive heat: in the 3rd Period, they shot 60% 6-10 from the field, while holding the Wildcats to 38.1% shooting. But they only out-scored Kentucky 22-18, due to the Wildcats getting that 38.1% shooting by shooting 8-21, more than doubling the Gamecocks' shot attempts for the quarter. The Gamecocks had 4 turnovers in the period that hamstrung their offensive output. The Wildcats meanwhile were called for fouls that sent the Gamecocks to the free throw line 10 times, of which they converted on 9 of them.
In the 4th Period, the game was blown open, disguising just how fiercely competitive it was. The Gamecocks out-scored the Wildcats 36-15 in the final stanza, shooting 13-17 (76.5%) and 10-13 (76.9%) from the charity stripe, as Kentucky continued to foul to try to slow down the Gamecock scoring. Overall in the 2nd half, South Carolina out-scored Kentucky 58-33, shooting 19-27 (70.4%) from the field, and 19-23 (82.6%) from the line.
Boston led the Gamecocks with 21 pts on 9-11 shooting, with 11 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 3 assists. Cooke added 20 pts on 8-14 shooting, with 3 assists and 2 rebounds. Cardoso added in 12 pts on 5-8 shooting, with 4 rebounds, and Amihere chipped in 11 pts on 3-7 shooting, with 3 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Red-shirt Freshman PG Raven Johnson continues to show strong improvement in her game, coming off the bench to add 9 pts on 4-4 shooting, with a team-leading 7 assists and 3 steals....
It’s crazy that UK cut it to 2 with about 3 min left in the third. Holy cow. Turned into a 29 point win awfully quick.
Well that’s why I don’t bet
just dawned on me: this week, we play back to back the two teams that defeated us last year. schedule makers of the SEC had to know, right ? well here’s hoping we start out Sunday against Mizzou like we closed last night .
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You can't get much higher praise that from Sheryl Swoopes herself.
5 teams have separated themselves from the rest of the league: USC, LSU, UT, Ole Miss and Arkansas. I'm not seeing another tournament team right now. Going to take an upset or two to get another SEC team in the discussion.
Latest Bracketology has SEC with 8 teams in. They Add; Miss. St., Mizzou, and Bama. All three are in the last four with byes. They also have UGA in the first four out. I’m like you 5 maybe 6 teams and I have said this since Sept.
The SEC schedule is really back loaded with the big matchups late.
We really **should** destroy Mizzou today. They have zero inside presence on offense or defense. The only reason their game with LSU was competitive was due to Angel Reese and LaDashia Williams getting in foul trouble. Both sat out the 2nd quarter. LSU still won by 20.
We have enough post depth that foul trouble shouldn't be an issue. If Watkins were able to get substantial minutes, I could see her having a good game. Mizzou just can't match up.
We have a tendency to make games unnecessarily dramatic. Not at home, though. Would love to see the team play 4 solid quarters.
We have enough post depth that foul trouble shouldn't be an issue. If Watkins were able to get substantial minutes, I could see her having a good game. Mizzou just can't match up.
We have a tendency to make games unnecessarily dramatic. Not at home, though. Would love to see the team play 4 solid quarters.
I remember last year ... they were depleted and still won ... do not let up today and "leave no doubt" (thinking Coach Yoast from Remember the Titans) ...
Raven is showing vast improvement ... the strength in her knee (and knee region) is obviously there and her confidence is soaring ... love her vision and defense ... we are seeing why she was so highly ranked ..
Gamecocks lead 47-28 at the half, after closing the half on a 12-0 run. Missouri trying to play real physical, and playing zone. The officials decided to start calling it tighter in the 2nd Period, and the Gamecocks started scoring more efficiently.
Boston leading the way with 14 pts in the first half, with 5 rebounds. Cooke added 10 pts as well. Raven with 6 pts on 2 three-point shots, with 4 assists and the 2 steals that the Gamecocks have thus far. Brea Beal also with 4 assists, as the Gamecocks had 13 1st-half assists, to only 4 turnovers.....
Boston leading the way with 14 pts in the first half, with 5 rebounds. Cooke added 10 pts as well. Raven with 6 pts on 2 three-point shots, with 4 assists and the 2 steals that the Gamecocks have thus far. Brea Beal also with 4 assists, as the Gamecocks had 13 1st-half assists, to only 4 turnovers.....
Thank you, Dawn Staley. I hoped coach would give Ashlyn Watkins more minutes, but I never would have imagined 27 minutes!
I believe Robin Pingeton was hoping we would go small and try to match up. Instead, coach pressed our advantage by going big. Honestly, Cardoso seemed surprised by how small Mizzou. She kept rushing her shot for no particular reason. She could have scored 20 today.
I believe Robin Pingeton was hoping we would go small and try to match up. Instead, coach pressed our advantage by going big. Honestly, Cardoso seemed surprised by how small Mizzou. She kept rushing her shot for no particular reason. She could have scored 20 today.
With today’s victory over Mizzou we are now 135-15 in SEC Regular season over the last 10 years. That is a 90% win rate
Destiny Littleton and USCw up 10 on Stanford. End of 3rd quarter. Crowd kind of lame.
Congrats, Destiny! Stanford only scored 46. They don't have a guard who can break down a defense. Going to be an issue for them come tournament time.
Impressive win for Southern California over Stanford, Destiny Littleton with a game high 18 points and 6 assists(only 1 turnover). With the recent recruiting success, we may see the beginning of an emerging contender in a few years.
After seeing So Cal get beat by Stanford...I would love to see LSU jump Ohio State and move to #2 in the polls.
Absolutely not, you shouldn't be rewarded for playing a very easy non-conference schedule.
To show how Raven Johnson's game is developing as the season progresses, over the course of the entire season thus far - with Raven appearing in 17 of the 18 games - starting 2 of them - she's averaged 3.1 ppg on 33.3% shooting, and 20.0% shooting from the 3-pt. arc. She's also averaged 3.5 apg, 2.6 rpg, and 1.3 spg.
Since SEC Conference play began (6 games now) Raven has averaged 4.3 ppg on 45.8% shooting, plus 36.4% from the 3-pt. line, 3.8 apg, 3.2 rpg, and 2.0 spg. She is coming along really nicely......
Since SEC Conference play began (6 games now) Raven has averaged 4.3 ppg on 45.8% shooting, plus 36.4% from the 3-pt. line, 3.8 apg, 3.2 rpg, and 2.0 spg. She is coming along really nicely......
71-4 at home with losses to Miss st, UK, UTx2
64-11 on the road with losses at UT x2, UK x2, Mizzou x3, A&M x2 and Miss St x 2
Wild ending to Ark vs Vandy last night. Vandy played their hearts out last to have this happen
That game was tight from beginning to end. The Vandy player who made their last shot, has made four 3s in the last 90 seconds. 3 of which was in the last 20 seconds, to go 7/10 from 3 for the night. I wish it went into overtime to see if Vandy could have finished the deal.
So is VANDY better than we thought? Or is Ark worse? I still think we win by +40 Thursday night.
I think it had more to do with the matchup. Arkansas isn't exactly known for their defense and Vandy was capitalizing on a unreal performance by Marnelle Garraud.
I don't think the Vandy game will be that close either. They are down to 8 players and only three of them are at least 6 feet tall, with the tallest being 6'2. Could be a big night for Cardoso, Watkins and Feagin if healthy.
They played well against UT as well. Certainly much better than they did against their first 3 SEC opponents: Miss State, LSU, Ole Miss.
Or, another way of saying it, they played well against finesse, offensive teams, less so against physical, defense-oriented teams.
Their guards are going to score. Sacha Washington is a solid low post player, especially on offense. But they are allergic to defensive rebounding. If Dawn goes with the same rotation as the Mizzou game -- 27 minutes for Watkins (or Feagin, if healthy) -- it could be another +30 rebound game. No team can shoot well enough to overcome that disparity.
Personally, I'm looking forward to Raven's match up against Harbison. Both are fun to watch. She'll be a good test of Raven's progress.
Mizzou shot 4-8 from 3 point in the first quarter. They only attempted 11 in the last 3 quarters, making 2. Somehow I think we practiced adjustments this week to not let Vandy go off on 3 pointers
when I saw that the first time I thought it was an intentional celebratory soccer GOOOOAALslide not an OOPS