So long, ‘Slim’: USC’s Tiffany Davis to be honored on Senior Day

Senior Day had a late addition.

Fifth-year senior Tiffany Davis will be honored before South Carolina’s regular-season finale on Sunday. She decided to move on from playing women’s basketball despite having a rare sixth year of eligibility.

Davis – who sat out her true freshman and junior year because of knee injuries, and has missed 12 games because of injury this year – has already graduated and was pursuing another degree in psychology.

“This is my last go-round. It’s been great here,” said Davis, who’s nicknamed Slim. “I’m at a loss for words because it’s been a long journey for me. It’s going to be emotional (Sunday).”

Davis missed nearly two full seasons (she played three games as a freshman before tearing her ACL), but was in line to receive a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA. She confirmed during the summer she was planning on coming back.

But the knees and various other ailments have limited her playing time this year. Davis has gotten into USC’s last three games, but missed 13 of 15 before that.

“She’s been going through a lot,” USC coach Dawn Staley said. “We want to make sure that Tiff, when she’s in position to have a family, she can run around and play with her family.”

“Just because I’ve been here a while and really my physical … is not keeping up for me,” Davis said. “It’s the better choice for me in the long term.”

Davis will leave the Gamecocks as a crucial behind-the-scenes player for the best stretch in program history. She’s looking to add a fourth SEC championship ring to her collection on Sunday.

This story was originally published February 25, 2017 at 8:38 AM with the headline "So long, ‘Slim’: USC’s Tiffany Davis to be honored on Senior Day."