‘Go ahead and do it’: Why the No. 1 Gamecocks are firing away from 3 more than ever
Less than 20 seconds into Thursday’s game against Auburn, South Carolina’s offense went to work.
Starting in one corner with senior forward Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, the No. 1 USC women’s basketball team whipped the ball around the perimeter as the Tigers played their usual zone defense.
Herbert Harrigan passed to freshman Brea Beal, who passed it to senior Tyasha Harris, who barely caught it before passing to freshman Zia Cooke in the opposite corner. The Auburn defender was a step late, the pass was perfectly placed for Cooke to step into her shot, and her 3-pointer splashed through the net.
Shots like that are what coach Dawn Staley likes — “in rhythm,” they come naturally in the flow of the offense, rather than being forced by a player under pressure. And for two weeks now, the Gamecocks have been getting in rhythm more than ever from 3-point range.
That was especially apparent Thursday, when the Gamecocks made a season-high 52.4% of their 3s, including five in a row to start the game. It was also key in USC’s landmark win over UConn, when the Gamecocks went 8-for-22 and took more than 30% of all their shots from beyond the arc.
Over the past five games, South Carolina has attempted 101 3-pointers, for an average of 20.2 per contest. In the previous 20, it attempted just 13.75 per game. At the same time, its overall field goal attempts per game have stayed roughly the same.
“We’re just taking what they give us,” Staley said in explaining the increase in long-range shots. “UConn played off us. I thought we did a great job (against Auburn) just moving the ball and pushing the ball up the floor. And, you know, we shot in rhythm, and when we do that, I don’t care if we shoot 100 3s over two games. If they’re in rhythm and we’re knocking them down, go ahead and do it — it’s just going to open things up inside.”
UConn coach Geno Auriemma admitted his team didn’t defend the 3-point line as aggressively, instead selling out to defend the middle.
“The majority of their offense is transition baskets and second shots. So let’s see if we can take those away and take our chances. ... That’s what we were planning to do, let them have more of those and less of stuff in the lane and less stuff in transition,” Auriemma said.
Star freshman forward Aliyah Boston is a key reason why opposing defenses have been so dedicated to stopping USC in the lane. After a dominant start to her collegiate career, coaches started to throw double teams and help defenses at her in the paint, hoping to frustrate her.
But with Boston attracting more attention, the looks from the outside are there for the Gamecocks, and they’ve taken advantage thus far. The increase in 3-point attempts hasn’t affected the team’s overall percentage from that distance — in the first 20 games, the Gamecocks shot 36.7% from 3. Over the last five, they’ve shot 36.6%.
It helps that the team’s two leaders in overall 3-point attempts, Cooke and Harris, both shoot above 38% from beyond the arc. Cooke actually shoots better on 3s than she does on 2-pointers. And the added value of those shots has increased South Carolina’s offensive efficiency to new heights — according to Her Hoop Stats, the Gamecocks now rank fourth nationally in points per 100 possessions.
South Carolina stills ranks outside the top 300 nationally in 3-point rate, though. And if opponents, starting with Vanderbilt on Monday, more aggressively defend the perimeter, Staley has made it clear she likes playing inside-out when possible.
When do the Gamecocks play next?
Who: No. 1 South Carolina (24-1, 11-0 SEC) vs. Vanderbilt (13-11, 3-8 SEC)
When: 7 p.m. Monday
Where: Colonial Life Arena
Watch: SEC Network
Listen: 107.5 FM in Columbia area
