South Carolina women's basketball: Huskies embarrass Gamecocks on their home court

No. 4 South Carolina’s 71-game home winning streak came to a shocking end on Sunday as no. 7 UConn routed the Gamecocks 87-58. 

The 29-point margin of victory was South Carolina’s largest deficit of the season. That was also the margin of victory (77-48) when the teams met in 2008, Dawn Staley’s first season at South Carolina.

Maybe it was a bad omen when Bree Hall sheepishly walked into the arena late. Or maybe it was when, on live television, Sir Big Spur flapped his wings in Elle Duncan’s face and tried to escape from her.

The day began with a live two-hour broadcast of College GameDay from the baseline at Colonial Life Arena. It was a celebration of all things garnet and black, but the game was a celebration of blue and white.

“I don’t think any of us expected it to be not a close game, but we were ready for whatever they threw at us,” Azzi Fudd said.

Joyce Edwards made a layup to put South Carolina up 11-9, but then UConn took over. The Huskies went on a 22-3 run spanning the first and second quarters (12-3 in the first, 10-0 to start the second).

South Carolina tried to get back into the game with a 7-0 run, and the crowd was ready to explode after MiLaysia Fulwiley made a fast break layup. But Geno Auriemma called a timeout to settle things down, and UConn finished the second quarter on a 14-2 run.

It was easily the worst quarter of the season for the Gamecocks. They scored a season-low nine points and gave up a season-high 24 points. That is not a recipe for success. The 22-point halftime deficit surpassed the 21-point halftime deficit at UCLA as the worst of the season.

“We just got punked today,” Te-Hina Paopao said. “It’s very much embarrassing. That’s not who we are. It was very much self-inflicted.”

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South Carolina failed to adapt to what UConn wanted to do on offense. The Huskies wanted to push tempo and space the floor to get three-pointers early in the shot clock. They shot 13-28 (46.4%) for the game. 

“Transition and balance. Bad shots produced points for a UConn team, they just don’t allow you to get back in it to set your defense up,” Staley said. “By the time you think about it the three is going up and through the net.”

Fudd had 28 points on 11-22 shooting and made 6-10 from three. 

“It helps when my teammates are playing incredible, and they were finding me the ball and setting me great screens,” Fudd said.

Sarah Strong had 16 points and 13 rebounds while Paige Bueckers had 12 points and 10 assists. 

“Our focus was being as aggressive as them and boxing out and playing every possession,” Strong said. 

When they had to execute in the halfcourt it was more of a struggle, but the Gamecocks didn’t run back and guard the three-point line enough for it to matter. UConn shot 43.7 overall. 

“I know how hard it is to play on the road against a great program like this, and you’re going to have to be, not perfect, but you’re going to have to be pretty darn good,” Auriemma said. “Our rebounding, our transition D, and our offense, that’s about as close to perfect as we’ve been all year.”

The Huskies have struggled to rebound all season but outrebounded the Gamecocks 48-29.

South Carolina shot a miserable 37.7% and 3-17 from three. Joyce Edwards led South Carolina with 17 points. MiLaysia Fulwiley had 11 and Paopao had 10.

The loss ended South Carolina’s 71-game home winning streak, the fourth-longest in NCAA history. The last home loss was 54-46 to NC State on December 3, 2020. South Carolina hadn’t lost by 20 or m

“Probably all of our streaks have been broken this year,” Staley said. “But it was a hell of a ride.”

Notes:
South Carolina wore its “Cocky” alternate uniforms. … Rapper Plies, introduced as a Gamecock Superfan, was the guest picker on GameDay. He picked South Carolina, as did Elle Duncan, Andraya Carter, and Chiney Ogwumike. … Former Gamecock Tina Roy performed the “Uncommon” team theme song live before the game. … Aliyah Boston attended the game and sat next to Plies. Shane and Hunter Beamer and former South Carolina president Harris Pastides and his wife were also among the crowd. … UConn got 13 points off of 12 Gamecock turnovers. South Carolina had just four points off of 10 turnovers. … UConn had 22 assists on 31 shots. South Carolina had seven assists on 23 baskets. … Dawn Staley’s outfit: Staley wore a black-on-black Eagles jacket over a black “UNCOMMON” shirt, saying it was her final Eagles outfit of the season. During GameDay, Staley had to remove one of her trademark diamond hoop earrings because it was banging against her microphone. … Announced attendance was 18,000. … South Carolina’s next game is on Thursday against Arkansas. 

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