South Carolina-Vanderbilt women’s basketball: What to watch for, where to watch

Who: No. 10 South Carolina (14-3, 3-2 SEC) vs. Vanderbilt (5-14, 1-4 SEC)

When: Thursday, 8 p.m.

Where: Memorial Gymnasium, Nashville, Tennessee

Watch: Streaming online on SEC Network Plus through WatchESPN

Listen: 1320 AM

Series History: South Carolina is 14-21 all time against the Commodores but have won eight straight games dating back to 2011.

South Carolina’s Starters: F Alexis Jennings, F Lele Grissett, G Tyasha Harris, G Doniyah Cliney, G Lindsey Spann

Vanderbilt’s Starters: F Autumn Newby, G Cierra Walker, G Christa Reed, G Chelsie Hall, G Rachel Bell

Last Game: Vanderbilt claimed its first SEC victory of the year over a scattered Kentucky team this past Sunday, cruising to a 70-55 home victory. South Carolina fell Sunday to No. 6 Tennessee, 86-70, after rallying late to within four points but then fading down the stretch.

Key Storyline: South Carolina enters this game without star forward A’ja Wilson (ankle sprain) or key reserve Mikiah Herbert Harrigan (bone bruise), leaving the Gamecocks with just three healthy players in the frontcourt, two of whom are freshmen. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, has been using four-guard starting lineups for the past few games and is one of the SEC’s worst in rebounding and blocking shots.

So it will be interesting to see the chess match between USC coach Dawn Staley and Vandy coach Stephanie White. On one hand, Staley could play a smaller lineup than she typically does in an attempt to rest her forwards, while at the same time risking playing right into the Commodores’ strengths. On the other hand, White could decide to move towards a bigger lineup to challenge South Carolina’s young post players, but in doing so she might reduce the number of 3-pointers Vandy can attempt, an area where her team excels.

Other Notes: South Carolina has still yet to hear back from the NCAA regarding its application for a hardship waiver to grant transfer Te’a Cooper immediately eligibility. The Gamecocks submitted the waiver on Dec. 18. ... Thursday will mark just the sixth game A’ja Wilson will have missed while at South Carolina. She has appeared in 121 career games. ... Sophomore guard Tyasha Harris has scored in double figures six straight games, posting four double-doubles over that span. ... Freshman forward Lele Grissett, who will likely start in Wilson’s place, tied her career highs for both points (10) and rebounds (8) against Tennessee.

Vanderbilt ranks 12th in the country in 3-point field goal percentage, and sophomore Cierra Walker ranks 10th individually. ... The Commodores have not posted a winning season in SEC play since 2012-2013. ... South Carolina has not lost on the road to Vanderbilt since 2008. ... The Dores rank outside the NCAA’s top 300 programs in turnover margin, blocked shots per game, rebounds per game, scoring defense and personal fouls per game.

This story was originally published January 17, 2018 at 5:14 PM with the headline "South Carolina-Vanderbilt women’s basketball: What to watch for, where to watch."