Superwoman returns as Gamecocks skewer East Carolina

The foot is fine.

Really.

Tiffany Mitchell scored 17 points to lead No. 2 South Carolina past East Carolina 88-57 on Sunday, easing any lingering concerns about her offseason foot surgery. She’s still hit the shots the Gamecocks absolutely had to have, but as USC has continued to play decently – although not dominant – questions abounded.

Was Mitchell really OK? Was the rust or whatever it was that caused some rather off shooting percentages going to linger throughout the season?

Yes and no.

“I’m starting to feel more comfortable out there, getting my rhythm back, my timing back,” Mitchell said. “I gave myself until January to kind of get things going, but starting to feel a lot better.”

“Tiffany Mitchell looked like Tiffany Mitchell on both sides of the ball,” USCcoach Dawn Staley said. “From a getting back to the Tiffany Mitchell of old, we saw all of that tonight.”

Mitchell was 5-of-9 from the field with a rebound, three assists and two steals. The Pirates (6-6) weren’t afraid to tussle inside and made life difficult for Mitchell to drive, so she shot 3-pointers, found her forwards and did what she could.

The Gamecocks (11-0) didn’t necessarily need her to take over – but were perfectly OK when she did.

A close game was broken open in the third quarter as USC began seeing more success from its bigs. A’ja Wilson returned after a two-game absence to score 15 points with 10 rebounds, while Alaina Coates posted a third straight double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds. Asia Dozier, in the starting lineup for the second straight game, scored a season-high 10 and Jatarie White had a career-high 14.

USC also dominated the defensive glass, a sore spot early in the season. Wilson, Coates and Imovbioh each had double figures.

“I think our post players, they do have a special bond,” Staley said. “They’re working toward dominating in all aspects of the game.”

TURNING POINT

The Pirates weathered a USC run with one of their own, trailing 21-15 after the first quarter. But as the Gamecocks began to unleash their arsenal, ECU couldn’t keep up. When Dozier hit a 3-pointer at 6:42 in the second, USC led 31-18 and the Pirates were paging the bus driver.

3 POINTS

Star of the game: While Mitchell was sterling, Coates again bulldozed her area and posted a double-double. Four of her rebounds were offensive, and Coates stuck around on a 50 percent shooting night to try for a second chance.

Play of the game: Imovbioh continues to work on her offense, but her rebounding remains superior. She tipped two back to herself after two missed shots, then sank the third try with a whistle on ECU. She swished the and-1.

Stat of the game: USC was 20-of-28 from the line. The Gamecocks’ free-throw shooting has been inconsistent, but in a foul-marred first half, it was clean enough for a healthy lead.

FROM THE BASELINE

Schemin’: With Khadijah Sessions in foul trouble, Staley put backup point guards Bianca Cuevas and Shay Colley in at the same time. It brought quickness and a more open offensive look, but was a defensive liability – ECU had height, and one of the two guards was often trying to back down a post player on the block.

OutTaTime: The Gamecocks would have preferred to look their sharpest with Wilson back, and worked to that level as the Pirates, who only dressed nine, went down with fouls and an injury. USC only has one more game to get 100 percent from the tip before SEC play starts. There is a break from Dec. 23 to Jan. 2 to practice, but there’s only so much that can be settled in practice.

UP NEXT

Who: South Carolina vs. Elon

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia

EAST CAROLINA (6-6)

Payne 3-11 6-6 14, Taylor 8-18 0-1 16, Laramie 4-14 2-2 13, Toure 1-9 2-2 4, Gray 0-3 0-0 0, Frazier 1-2 1-1 3, Womble 0-0 0-0 0, Csutoras 2-8 0-0 5, Holston 0-4 2-2 2. Totals 19-69 13-14 57.

SOUTH CAROLINA (11-0)

Wilson 7-10 1-1 15, Dozier 4-5 0-0 10, Coates 4-8 2-4 10, Sessions 1-5 3-4 5, Mitchell 5-9 5-8 16, Colley 1-2 0-0 3, Cuevas 1-7 2-2 4, Duckett 1-1 0-0 2, Roy 1-5 0-0 3, Imovbioh 2-6 2-3 6, White 5-8 4-6 14, Farmer 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 32-67 19-28 88.

3-Point Goals_East Carolina 6-23 (Laramie 3-7, Payne 2-6, Csutoras 1-3, Gray 0-3, Toure 0-4), South Carolina 5-18 (Dozier 2-2, Colley 1-2, Mitchell 1-3, Roy 1-4, Farmer 0-1, White 0-1, Sessions 0-2, Cuevas 0-3). Fouled Out_Holston. Rebounds_East Carolina 37 (Laramie 10), South Carolina 54 (Coates 15). Assists_East Carolina 7 (Toure 3), South Carolina 13 (Colley 4). Total Fouls_East Carolina 26, South Carolina 14. Technical_East Carolina Bench.

This story was originally published December 20, 2015 at 2:50 PM with the headline "Superwoman returns as Gamecocks skewer East Carolina."