South Carolina women's basketball: Ranking the Gamecocks' best individual seasons
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In a recent story, I wrote that Aliyah Boston had one of the best individual seasons in program history in 2021-22. Even though I didn’t do any research before writing that, I felt confident it was true. But if I did do some research, what would be the best seasons in Gamecock history?
Since this is my ranking, I got to come up with the criteria and then arbitrarily enforce those criteria. Individual statistics matter, of course, but so does winning. I prioritized national awards and postseason finish on top of the stats, plus an eye toward school records.
I tried to fight recency bias. I’ve noted many times that I have trouble purring the AIAW era in proper context compared to the modern era of women’s college basketball, not to mention I’m going strictly off stats without the benefit of actually having watched the older players play.
Here’s my attempt at ranking the top ten individual seasons in South Carolina history:
Top Ten
1. Aliyah Boston 2021-22 (16.8 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.4 bpg, 1.2 spg; single-season rebounding record (total, offensive, and defensive), SEC double-double record, All-American, National/SEC Player of the Year, National/SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Center of the Year, NCAA Final Four MOP, National Champion)
2. A’ja Wilson 2017-18 (22.6 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 1.7 apg, 3.18 bpg (school record), 1.0 spg; single-season blocks record, National/SEC Player of the Year, SEC Defensive Player of the year, SEC Tournament Champions, Center of the Year, All-American, SEC Female Athlete of the Year, NCAA Elite Eight)
3. Sheila Foster 1979-80 (16.4 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 1.4 apg, 2.4 spg, AIAW Final Four)
4. A’ja Wilson 2016-17 (17.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.4 apg, 2.6 bpg, 1.2 spg; All-American, SEC Player of the Year, NCAA Final Four MOP, National Champion)
5. Aliyah Boston 2020-21 (13.7 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 1.6 apg, 2.6 bpg, 1.2 spg; National Player of the Year/The Athletic, National Player of the Year finalist, National Defensive Player of the Year finalist, SEC Tournament MVP, SEC Defensive Player of the Year, All-American, Center of the Year, NCAA Final Four)
Top 10
- 1Breaking
DJ Lagway
Florida QB to return vs. LSU
- 2
Dylan Raiola injury
Nebraska QB will play vs. USC
- 3
Elko pokes at Kiffin
A&M coach jokes over kick times
- 4New
SEC changes course
Alcohol sales at SEC Championship Game
- 5
Bryce Underwood
Michigan prepared to offer No. 1 recruit $10.5M over 4 years
6. Jocelyn Penn 2002-03 (23.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.9 apg, 3.7 spg (school record); first-team All-American, player of the year finalist, NCAA Second Round, school-record 51 points against Stetson)
7. Shannon Johnson 1995-96 (24.7 ppg (school record), 6.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.6 spg; second-team All-American, player of the year finalist)
8. Katrina Anderson 1977-78 (22.2 ppg, 12.8 rpg (school record), 1.7 spg, 1.2 apg; school-record for total points in a season)
9. Ty Harris 2019-20 (12.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.7 apg, 1.6 spg; SEC Female Athlete of the Year, third-team All-American, National Player of the Year finalists, Consensus #1 postseason team)
10. Mindy Ballou 1983-84 (11.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 7.3 apg (school record), 1.4 spg; All-American)
Honorable Mention
Sheila Foster 1981-82; Marsha Williams 1991-92; Beth Hunt 1989-90; Martha Parker 1988-89; Cristina Ciocan 2002-03; Martha Parker 1987-88; Sheila Foster 1980-81; Tiffany Mitchell 2014-15;
