South Carolina women's basketball: Five Things to Watch - #15 UCLA

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1. Aliyah Boston’s injury status

Aliyah Boston will be a game-time decision. She injured her right ankle Sunday against Hampton and was limited in practice Monday. When Dawn Staley jokingly asked Boston if she would play Tuesday, Boston just grinned.

If Boston doesn’t play, Staley said on Monday she had not yet decided who would start.

Boston has never missed a game – or start – in her career. She has started all 107 games and holds the program record for consecutive starts. Boston is in seventh place for career starts, 28 behind leader Tiffany Mitchell. 

Read more about Boston’s status HERE.

2. Point guard

All it took was an injury to the nation’s best player to knock this out of the top spot. Raven Johnson and Kierra Fletcher had another solid performance against Hampton. Johnson tied her career-high with five assists and now leads South Carolina in that category. Fletcher had two points, two assists, and two rebounds. 

Staley has settled into a rotation that has Fletcher starting and Johnson coming off the bench. Fletcher, a four-year starter at Georgia Tech, said the Gamecocks play at a much faster pace than the Yellow Jackets. It has been an adjustment, but she is feeling increasingly comfortable as a starter.

“I’m still working through some things. I definitely feel a lot better with some games underneath me,” Fletcher said. “I haven’t been able to practice a lot since I’ve gotten here so now that I’m actually in the groove of things it’s definitely helping.”

Fletcher said that Johnson has been an ideal teammate as they both work back from injuries and learn the role. They ask each other questions, push each other in practice, and try to make each other better. Still, Staley wants one of the two point guards to take charge of the position.

“I’d like for one of them to just open it up against each other,” Staley said. “I want somebody to rise above the other.”

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3. Breezy because we have a Brea

While Fletcher and Johnson continue to progress, Bree Hall has come into her own. Hall made a mark last season as a high-energy defender who played offense with the same reckless abandon.

She is still a high-energy defender, but Hall has learned how to play within the framework of the offense. Hall hit a couple of big threes against Stanford on the way to a career-high 12 points. Then she attacked the rim against Hampton and set a new career-high with 14.

When the Gamecocks get lethargic, Staley can count on Hall to provide energy.

“We’re going to lean on her a little bit more because she’s a downhill driver, she plays aggressive defense, and she’s getting better,” Staley said.

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4. Title IX celebration

As part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX, South Carolina will recognize several pioneering athletes during the game. South Carolina Athletics and the College of Education have collaborated on a traveling exhibit that will be displayed at the McGuire Club beginning at 6:00 pm Tuesday night and remaining open through the end of halftime.  

More information about the exhibit can be found HERE.

5. Scouting the Bruins

UCLA has been a pleasant surprise this season. The Bruins were hit hard by injuries and then signed the top-ranked recruiting class, so they were expected to be better. They just weren’t expected to be this much better this quickly. 

UCLA won the Battle4Atlantis (making this game a matchup of the last two – and only two – winners of the Battle4Atlantis) by beating South Dakota State, Tennessee, and Marquette. 

The Bruins are led by their backcourt and senior Charisma Osborne and freshman Kiki Rice. Osborne is averaging 20.1 points per game this season, along with 7.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists. She leads the Bruins in scoring and rebounding. Rice is averaging 11.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. 

Rice has immediately stepped in and become the Bruins’ top point guard. That allows Osborne to become a more dangerous scorer while still creating open shots for others.

“They’ve got a great guard in Osborne,” Staley said. “She can go. She fits the bill The WNBA scouts are here and she’s probably a top pick in the draft and rightfully so. They’ve got a team. They defend. A lot of pressing, a lot of spreading you out, and they get people the ball where they can be effective. It’s a big challenge for us.”

UCLA is still a strong rebounding team, ranking in the top 25 in the country in rebounds per game and rebounding margin. However, UCLA gives up some size to South Carolina and the Gamecocks will be tough to keep off the glass.

Both teams have played Cal Poly this season. UCLA won 84-48 in the season-opener, while South Carolina won 79-36.

The Ws

Who: #1 South Carolina (6-0) vs #15 UCLA (7-0)

When: 7:00 pm, Tuesday, November 29

Where: Colonial Life Arena

Watch: SEC Network

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