South Carolina women's basketball: Free throws matter to the Gamecocks
Historically, South Carolina has never been a good free throw shooting team under Dawn Staley. Remember LeLe Grissett? Ashley Bruner?
The best free throw shooting team was in 2018-19, when the Gamecocks hit 73.0% from the stripe.
They have shattered that mark this season, currently hitting 76.5%. And when they needed to hit the freebies, the Gamecocks came through in the clutch.
South Carolina made seven of eight free throws in the final 34 seconds on Friday, enough to hold off a desperate Maryland rally.
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First, Chloe Kitts sank a pair. This came a little over a minute after Kitts, an 81% free throw shooter, had split a pair, and that miss was at the front of her mind.
“I was like, dang I hope I don’t miss it because I had two before that and I missed one,” Kitts said. “I was just telling myself I’ve got this. Let me just shoot them like I did in practice, and I’m going to make them.”
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Kitts gave South Carolina a six-point lead. Saylor Poffenbarger hit a three to cut the lead in half, but Bree Hall, who shoots 66.7%, made one of two free throws.
South Carolina forced a turnover, and then Sania Feagin stepped to the line. Feagin, who shoots a hair under 80%, sank both to put South Carolina up by six again.
“I felt ready,” Feagin said. “I felt confident in my shot and myself, and I just took them. Took a deep breath, and they went in.”
Maryland got another layup, but then MiLaysia Fulwiley, a 78% shooter, sealed the game with a pair of free throws.
For the game, South Carolina shot 17-21 from the line, 81%. Proof that miracles happen in March.
