#6 South Carolina women's basketball races past #14 Maryland 114-76

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#6 South Carolina and #14 Maryland were neck and neck for the first 17 minutes of the game, but South Carolina used a big run at the end of the first half to pull away from Maryland. Once the Gamecocks got the lead, they turned the game into a 114-76 rout.

Freshman Tessa Johnson sparked a 17-4 run over the final 2:37 that turned a 32-31 deficit into a 48-36 halftime lead. Johnson hit a corner three, forced a turnover, and then found Te-Hina Paopao for another three. 

The Gamecocks scored the final nine points of the half, capped by an all-freshman play. Johnson forced a turnover on an inbounds pass, corralled the basketball, and flipped it to Sahnya Jah, who had just entered the game for the first time, for a layup and foul. She missed the free throw, but the damage was done.

“We made turnover after turnover and that shifted momentum,” Shyanne Sellers said. “Instead of walking in tied at halftime we’re walking in down 12.”

Johnson finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals, and her confidence seemed to grow as the game went on.

“I think started on the defensive end, understanding the scout, and my coaches and teammates were giving me confidence,” Johnson said. “Shooting it just to shoot it and shooting it to make it is the difference. It comes from my teammates and coaches and getting in the gym.”

With its guard-heavy lineup, Maryland has a significant size disadvantage against South Carolina, especially Kamilla Cardoso. But Maryland did a good job of limiting Cardoso to 12 points and seven rebounds by pulling her away from the basket when the Terps had the ball and sagging in on her when the Gamecocks had the ball. 

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It was the same strategy Maryland used last season, and South Carolina’s shooters struggled to make Maryland pay. On Sunday, it played right into South Carolina’s hands. 

Dawn Staley was able to go with her small lineup – a lineup that still had a height advantage on Maryland but was much quicker.

“We absolutely (tried different strategies),” Frese said. “When we went to our man we were having a really tough time on the glass. So pick your poison with them.”

Raven Johnson (2-3 from three), Tessa Johnson (2-4), Paopao (4-8), and Bree Hall (2-4) punished Maryland for leaving them open. Chloe Kitts (career-highs of 13 points and 10 rebounds) and Ashlyn Watkins (13 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks) had no trouble chasing around Maryland’s guards and could punish them in the paint.

The Gamecocks were able to dominate every statistical category. They were plus-20 rebounding, plus-five in turnovers, plus-19 in points off turnovers, plus-20 in second-chance points, plus-35 in bench points, plus-26 in points in the paint, plus-15 in assists, plus-10 in blocks, and had a whopping 26-2 advantage in fast break points.

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“We’re just in the moment. It was a big win for us and we did it a certain way,” Staley said.

“It’s a collective effort. There isn’t anybody you can hone in on.”

All eleven Gamecocks played and scored. Ten had at least seven points, and seven scored in double-figures. It was the most points South Carolina has ever scored against a ranked opponent and the largest margin of victory against a ranked opponent since beating #16 Clemson by 34 in 1980.

“I didn’t see Notre Dame. I really didn’t see this,” Staley said. “Now that they’ve given us a small sample, it looks like we can score the ball.”

Notes:

Prior to the game, Tiffany Mitchell’s 25 jersey was retired. It was raised to the baseline rafters for the ceremony but will be moved alongside the retired jerseys of Sheila Foster, Martha Parker, and Shannon Johnson by the scoreboard. … After the game, the 2022-23 Gamecocks received their SEC Champion and Final Four rings. Aliyah Boston, Zia Cooke, Brea Beal, and Olivia Thompson returned for the ceremony. Laeticia Amihere was unable to play due to Team Canada commitments. Victaria Saxton is playing in Europe. … South Carolina’s 114 points are the most since scoring 119 against College of Charleston in 2020. … Faith Masonius missed two fourth-quarter free throws to win free chicken for everyone. The reward is chicken nuggets instead of a sandwich this season. … South Carolina finished 12-24 from three and 16-25 from the line. Maryland was 10-22 from three and 8-12 from the line.. … South Carolina’s 37 points in the fourth quarter tied a program record. Frese was experimenting with younger players by that point. … South Carolina had 30 assists on 43 made baskets. Paopao and Raven Johnson each had eight assists. … Dawn Staley’s outfit: Black Louis Vuitton. … Announced attendance was 16,007. … South Carolina’s next game is Thursday against Clemson.

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