COLUMBIA, South Carolina – No. 3/3 South Carolina will face Providence on Sunday, December 28, in a noon game at Colonial Life Arena. This will be the Gamecocks’ final tune-up before SEC action begins on New Year’s Day.
Match day information
Open days: 11:00 a.m. | 10:15 a.m. for the Fast Break Pass
Chalk talk: Open to season ticket holders via the College Street entrance (10:20 a.m.)
Promotion: Free concessions
South Carolina Gamecocks (12-1)
Head coach: Dawn Staley
Top scorer: Joyce Edwards (22.0)
Best rebounder: Medina Okot (11.1)
Providence Brothers (8-5)
Head coach: Erin Bath
Top scorer: Le Gueye (13.9)
Best rebounder: Teneisia Brown (7.5)
Gamecock notables
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South Carolina’s offense is among the nation’s most potent this season, ranking fourth in the NCAA in scoring at 92.6 points per game and second in field goal percentage at .544. Madina Okot (.641) and Joyce Edwards (.628) lead the SEC in field goal percentage and rank eighth and ninth in the nation, respectively. South Carolina is also 15th in the nation with a .381 3-point field goal percentage, highlighted by SEC leader Tessa Johnson’s 47.3 percent accuracy.
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The Gamecock defense is also finding its full potential, allowing only 52.9 points per game (12th in the NCAA) and limiting its opponents to 31.4% shooting (4th in the NCAA).
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South Carolina’s dominance in the paint is an annual tradition, and this season’s team is second in the nation with 54.2 paint points per game, notably tying the program record for paint points in a game (74) in each of their last two outings. The Gamecocks are shooting 66.0 percent in the paint.
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South Carolina is ranked second in the NET this week with a schedule that includes 2 Quad 1 games. The Gamecocks lead the SEC in average opponent NET ranking (42).
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National candidate of the year Joyce Edwards makes a strong case to become a title favorite with her scoring (22.0 ppg) and efficiency (.628 FG%) ranking 10th and ninth in the nation, respectively. The Gamecocks’ second-leading rebounder with 6.2 RPG, she is also a threat defensively, ranking seventh in the SEC with 1.6 blocks per game and 12th with 2.1 steals per game. Edwards finished the semester strong, averaging 29.3 points on 76.9 percent shooting and 7.3 rebounds over the final four games.
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Preseason AP All-American Ta’Niya Latson is finding her footing with the Gamecocks, ranking second on the team in scoring (17.4 ppg, 9th in SEC) and assists (4.0 apg, 12th in SEC). His shooting percentages are the best of his career, as are his 1.08 points per possession. Combining his 17.4 points per game with the additional 9.1 scored from his assists, Latson owns 28.6 percent of the Gamecocks’ offense.
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Senior forward Madina Okot exploits her ability to be dominant in any game, ranking second in the NCAA in double-doubles (8), fifth in field goal percentage (.641), eighth in rebounding (11.1) and 26th in offensive rebounding (3.8).
By the numbers
3 – Three Gamecocks rank among the top 20 scorers in the SEC this season.
5 – The Gamecocks have recorded at least 12 wins before the start of SEC play over the past five seasons.
7 – South Carolina is in the top 10 in the nation in seven statistical categories, including four in the top 5.
The Providence series
The Gamecocks and Friars have never met in women’s basketball. There is a connection between the programs, however, through PC assistant coach Valerie Nainima who played two seasons at South Carolina. She earned second-team All-SEC recognition in 2009-10 as the Gamecocks’ leading scorer and one of the nation’s best 3-point shooters. She holds the program record for made 3s in SEC play (48 in 2009-10) and ranks ninth in program history in career 3-point percentage (.338).
home Sweet Home
TThe Gamecocks are 553-168 (.767) in home games (some records prior to 1976-77 did not include game locations). Current head coach Dawn Staley is 241-35 at home for a program-best .873 winning percentage.
Playing its 24th season at Colonial Life Arena, South Carolina is 304-68 (.817) in the building, including four undefeated seasons since 2013-14. Staley’s share of that record is 238-35 (.872).
Calendar sketch
South Carolina’s schedule continues to challenge and prepare the team for the postseason. This year’s slate includes 12 games against teams ranked in the current top 25 – five at home, five on the road and two neutral sites. Four of the ten matches are against top 10 teams.
The non-conference schedule is highlighted by three ranked matchups – against No. 8/10 Southern Cal (W, 69-52), against No. 4/4 Texas (L, 64-66) and No. 22/21 Louisville (W, 79-77).
In the NET rankings, South Carolina is ranked second and has 12 Quad 1 games on the schedule, including four non-conference games. The Gamecocks lead the SEC in NET rankings and have the best average NET ranking of opponents (42).
Neighborhood party
The Gamecocks have been a premier shot-blocking program since their first national championship in 2017. They ranked in the top 15 in blocks per game that season and only climbed higher in the next eight seasons, including four years leading the nation in the statistics and twice placing second. Beyond blocks, their block percentage led the country for three seasons.
This season, South Carolina is sixth in the nation with 6.8 blocks per game, including 4.3 against ranked opponents. The Gamecocks have blocked 16.6 percent of their opponents’ 2-point attempts, which ranks them sixth nationally, according to Her Hoop Stats.
Joyce Edwards tops the individual list with 1.62 blocks per game to rank seventh in the SEC. Madina Okot is just behind at 1.58 per game (8th SEC). Gamecock guards added 2.3 blocks per game to the team average.
