South Carolina women's basketball: Brea Beal's tournament defense

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Brea Beal’s only double-figure scoring game of the regular season came in the finale against Ole Miss when she went off for all of 11 points. She topped that twice in the NCAA Tournament by scoring 12 points, but she also went scoreless against North Carolina. In fact, she had more scoreless games (five) than double-figure games (three).

Beal finished the season averaging a career-low 5.1 points per game, another victim of South Carolina’s slower pace this season. She didn’t make the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List or SEC All-Defensive team. Her defense was largely overshadowed by Aliyah Boston, even though Beal continued to guard the other team’s top scorer in most games. 

Destanni Henderson’s defense on Paige Bueckers in the championship game got most of the attention, but Beal was sensational for all six games. Her effort against Hailey Van Lith in the national semifinal ranks up there with her job on Rhyne Howard as a freshman as one of the finest moments of her career. 

Van Lith entered the game having scored at least 20 points in every tournament game. Her first three possessions against Beal ended in a travel, blocked shot, and another blocked shot. Van Lith finished with a respectable-looking nine points, but she padded her stats in the final minutes after South Carolina emptied the bench. Beal also scored 12 points, taking advantage of her size advantage on offense and running Van Lith into screens to wear her down. 

It made me wonder, how many points did Beal actually give up? In fact, how many points did Beal give up in the entire tournament?

The numbers

I rewatched all six games and recorded how many points Beal gave up, not just how many points her primary assignment scored. The results were shocking.

Beal’s primary assignments averaged a combined total of 78.1 points.

Beal gave up 29 points total, including switches onto other players. That’s an average of 4.8 points per game, including no points allowed against Howard. Beal averaged 6.5 points per game (39 points total), easily besting her opponents.

It’s not an exact count because sometimes it can be hard to tell who made a bad read on a play (although South Carolina doesn’t make many). I didn’t want to punish Beal for helping on other players. If someone got beat off the dribble and Beal came over to help at the last second, I didn’t count that as a basket against Beal. If it was a planned switch, then it did count. I counted transition baskets, although you could argue Beal shouldn’t be held responsible since the defense never got set. Beal gave up seven points in transition. But players also missed open shots (although it’s surprising how few shot attempts Beal even allows), so it evens out.

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Game logs

Howard

South Carolina won 79-21, Howard shot 8-54 (14.8%) and 1-9 (11.1%) from three, outrebounded 69-28

Primary assignment: Destiny Howell (season: leading scorer 12.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg; game: 2 points, 4 rebounds, 3 turnovers, 1-11 shooting) 

Beal’s stats: 7 points, 6 rebounds (13 minutes played)

Points allowed by Beal: 0

Miami

South Carolina won 49-33, Miami shot 11-46 (23.9%), 5-19 (26.3%) from three, outrebounded 49-31

Primary assignment: Kelsey Marshall (season: leading scorer: 13.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg; game: 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2-10 shooting)

Beal’s stats: 6 points (27 minutes played)

Points allowed by Beal: 7

2 (Marshall jumper off a screen, you could argue it was Destanni Henderson’s fault)

2 (fouled #1 Moulayna Johnson Sidi Baba on a jumper in transition)

1 (Marshall drives, fouled, makes 1-2 FTs)

2 (Marshall drives, baseline layup)

North Carolina

South Carolina won 69-61, North Carolina shot 24-52 (46.2%) and 3-11 (27.3%) from three, outrebounded 48-33

Primary assignment: Kennedy Todd-Williams (season: 10.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg; game: 7 points, 2 rebounds)

Beal’s stats: 4 assists, 2 rebounds (29 minutes played)

Points allowed by Beal: 9

2 (Carlie Littlefield transition layup)

2 (Deja Kelly drive and layup)

1 (Todd-Williams, fouled on a jumper in transition, 1-2 FTs)

2 (Todd-Williams baseline drive)

2 (Deja Kelly transition layup)

Creighton

South Carolina won 80-50, Creighton shot 21-56 (37.5%) and 7-21 (33.3%) from three, outrebounded 43-23

Primary assignment: none – Beal guarded Payton Brotzki (5 points), Lauren Jenson (12 points), and Rachael Saunders (8 points) depending on lineups

Beal’s stats: 12 points, 3 rebounds, (22 minutes played)

Points allowed by Beal: 6

3 (Brotzki lost in a huddle and faded back for three)

3 (Jensen back cut for a layup and foul, free throw good)

Louisville

South Carolina wins 72-59, Louisville shot 27-63 (42.9%) and 1-8 (12.5%) from three, outrebounded 36-33

Primary assignment: Hailey Van Lith (Season: leading scorer 14.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg; game: 9 points, 9 rebounds, 4 turnovers, 40 minutes played)

Beal’s stats: 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks (33 minutes played)

Points allowed by Beal: 4

2 (Van Lith scoop shot in the lane, might have gotten away with a travel)

2 (Van Lith stutter step, definitely traveled, floater) 

UConn

South Carolina won 64-59, UConn shot 22-54 (40.7%) and 4-16 (25.0%) from three, outrebounded 49-24

Primary assignment: Christyn Williams (season: 14.2 ppg (leader in total points), 3.4 rpg; game: 2 points, 1-7 shooting)

Beal’s stats: 2 points, 4 rebounds, (29 minutes played)

Points allowed by Beal: 3

1 (Paige Bueckers fouled on a fadeaway jumper, made 1-2 free throws)

2 (Bueckers drive, floater)

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