What we learned from South Carolina’s win over Buffalo in Battle 4 Atlantis tournament
Three road games in, and South Carolina women’s basketball still hasn’t trailed when away from Colonial Life Arena.
The No. 1 Gamecocks (4-0) pieced together another strong showing in an 88-60 victory over Buffalo (1-1) Saturday to open up play in the Bad Boy Mowers Women’s Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in Paradise Island, Bahamas.
With the win, South Carolina advances to a top-10 matchup against No. 9 Oregon at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The Ducks (3-0) defeated Oklahoma 98-93 in their first game of the weekend.
“We like to measure ourselves,” head coach Dawn Staley said after the Buffalo win. “We like to see where we are. We like to see areas we need to work on, and the areas in which we can be dominant. The only true test is to play.”
Here’s what we learned about the Gamecocks after their win Saturday night.
Gamecocks’ post players are dominant
Aliyah Boston, averaging 9.3 points per game through the Gamecocks’ first three contests, was due for her 2021-22 breakout performance. The AP preseason All-American felt the energy flowing in the first half against Buffalo.
“It definitely felt good to be able to just knock some shots down,” Boston said after the game. “I felt like my teammates did a great job of getting me the ball, especially in the high post, so I can knock down that jumper. I’m just gonna just continue to use it as we go on each game and just be smart in how I play.”
Boston scored 19 points in the first half, shooting 7 of 12 from the field and connecting on 5 of 6 attempts from the free-throw line. Syracuse transfer Kamilla Cardoso added 6 points in 10 minutes off the bench in the first half.
The Gamecocks dominated the Bulls in the post, creating lanes for Boston and Cardoso throughout the game. Cardoso finished the game with a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds), while Boston tallied 23 points and seven boards.
“We wanted our posts to be dominant,” head coach Dawn Staley said after the game. “That was a huge advantage coming into the basketball game, and that was our expectation. They came through.”
South Carolina scored 48 points in the paint Saturday.
Henderson remains clutch from the 3-point line
Point guard Destanni Henderson entered Saturday’s game shooting 63.6% (7 of 11) from behind the arc, and the senior point guard continued to capitalize on her opportunities against Buffalo.
Henderson was 4-6 on 3-point shots Saturday, improving her 3-point percentage to 64.7% through the Gamecocks’ first four games. She finished Saturday’s game with 14 points.
“I’m very comfortable when my feet are set,” Henderson said after the game. “I know when my feet are set, and the ball is passed to me right, I’m going to shoot it, and nine times out of 10, it’s probably gonna go in. I thank my teammates for just looking for me behind the arc, and I’m just gonna keep shooting.”
Last season, Henderson went 41.4% from behind and landed in the Gamecocks’ record books for the eighth-best 3-point percentage in school history.
“My coaches, they always tell me ‘Henny, shoot the ball, shoot the ball,’” she said. “Because a lot of times I’m going to pass it, but I’m just going to keep listening to them and just believing in myself.”
South Carolina capitalizes on depth
South Carolina’s deep roster was on full display against Buffalo.
The Gamecocks’ bench produced 38 points Saturday, highlighted by Cardoso’s 12 in 16 minutes. Laeticia Amihere, who scored 10 points in South Carolina’s win over Clemson, added 5 points against Buffalo in 16 minutes of action.
With freshman point guard Raven Johnson out for the season due to a knee injury, Amihere and sophomore Eniya Russell both took over back-up point guard duties behind Henderson at various points throughout the game.
Saniya Rivers was the last Gamecock freshman left to debut and saw her first minutes of the regular season in the first quarter against Buffalo. Rivers hit a 3-point shot for her first collegiate bucket and finished the night with 7 points. Fellow freshman Bree Hall added 5 points, with Destiny Littleton (4 points), Russell (4 points) and Elysa Wesolek (1 point) also contributing.
Next USC women’s basketball game
Who: South Carolina vs. Oregon
When: 2:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Imperial Arena in Paradise Island, Bahamas
Watch: Streaming on FloHoops
This story was originally published November 20, 2021 at 9:15 PM.
