No. 1 Gamecocks battle past Maryland in Top 10 showdown. What we learned
The South Carolina women’s basketball team hasn’t let up on the gas.
The No. 1 Gamecocks earned a close win Sunday, their fourth against Top 10 teams this season, defeating the No. 8 Maryland Terrapins 66-59 in front of a raucous crowd at Colonial Life Arena.
“There’s value in that you beat another great team that’s going to the tournament (and) could be in the Final Four,” head coach Dawn Staley said after the game. “But I’m sure our players are feeling it right now. They’re gonna feel it tomorrow.”
The Terps (9-3), who entered Sunday averaging 83.6 points per game, were held to just 59 behind a forceful defensive effort from the Gamecocks. South Carolina (10-0) blocked 15 Maryland shots, including five of its first 10 of the game, and continued to show dominance on the glass, out-rebounding a proficient Maryland 61-34, including 24 offensive rebounds.
Maryland leaders Angel Reese (20 points, 10 rebounds) and Ashley Owusu (11 points, six rebounds) kept the game competitive through the fourth, though the Terps narrowly fell short from the field, making 31.3% of their shots compared to the Gamecocks’ 36.4%.
“The rebounding gave us an opportunity to hang in there,” Staley said. “If we had the bank on 36% shooting, we’re not gonna win the game.”
The Gamecocks remain undefeated as they continue their a difficult three-game stretch that will conclude with a trip to No. 19 Duke on Wednesday and a meeting with No. 4 Stanford at the CLA on Dec. 21.
“We’ve got to take a day off, (then) we’ve got one day to prepare for Duke,” Staley said. “It’s better when you win. That day off will feel a lot better than if we lost this game. We would’ve taken the day off regardless.”
Here’s what we learned about the Gamecocks in their gritty win over Maryland.
Zia Cooke remains a game changer
When South Carolina needed her most, Zia Cooke was there.
Cooke, who eclipsed 1,000 career points on Sunday, was a driving force behind South Carolina’s late-game momentum.
Cooke, who led the Gamecocks with 20 points on 5-13 shooting from the field, sailed the go-ahead layup with 5 minutes to go in the fourth quarter after South Carolina had relinquished a lead it had let up a few minutes earlier.
The Gamecocks wouldn’t let go of that lead.
Cooke’s efforts were paired with All-American Aliyah Boston, who also eclipsed 1,000 career points on Sunday. Boston scored 16 points and grabbed another 16 rebounds.
“At certain points in the game, they both were the catalysts that we needed to score points, get a steal, get a stop or get a rebound,” Staley said after the game. “They’ve brought that presence to our team for the past two and a half years.”
Second-quarter run propels USC forward, shows offensive versatility
South Carolina has found its offensive bread and butter in the paint this season, averaging 38.4 points per game (51.0% of its total offense) in that area heading into Sunday’s matchup with Maryland. That trend didn’t slow up against the Terps, with 42 of the Gamecocks’ 66 points scored in the paint.
But Sunday’s game against Maryland showed the Gamecocks are capable of making runs even when the ball isn’t being driven into the post.
Down 19-17 in the second quarter, Cooke broke a cold streak (0-4 from the field in the first quarter) with a 3-point shot to kick-start a 10-2 South Carolina run that was highlighted by guard play.
Freshman Saniya Rivers brought a steal down the court for a layup, while Brea Beal made a jumper from the behind the arc to extend the lead. Beal added another basket to the the 10-2 run (broken up by a Reese layup for Maryland), highlighting South Carolina’s ability to score points even without elite play in the paint.
LeLe Grissett is back, Saniya Rivers makes impact off the bench
LeLe Grissett made her return in Colonial Life Arena to a full chorus of cheers Sunday afternoon.
Grissett, who hadn’t played since leaving in the fourth quarter of last season’s SEC tournament championship with a leg injury, came off the bench with 30 seconds to go in the first quarter and made an immediate impact once she stepped on the floor.
Grissett drove a game-tying layup within the first minute of the second, and gave the Gamecocks their first lead of the game with another basket at the 8:44 mark in the second. She finished the day with five points on 2-2 shooting from the field in nine minutes.
Rivers, who was second off the South Carolina bench behind Kamilla Cardoso, played a career-high 26 minutes, scoring four points and grabbing four boards.
While starting point guard Destanni Henderson participated in warmups and dressed in full uniform for the game Sunday, she did not play for the second game in a row. Laeticia Amihere got her second start in Henderson’s place.
Next USC women’s basketball game
Who: South Carolina vs. Duke
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C.
Watch: ACC Network
South Carolina vs Maryland box score
MARYLAND (9-3)—Bibby 0-5 2-2 2, Collins 3-10 0-0 8, Reese 7-19 6-9 20, Benzan 3-5 0-0 9, Owusu 3-17 5-8 11, Masonius 4-4 1-2 9, Sellers 0-4 0-0 0, Team 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 20-64 14-21 59
SOUTH CAROLINA (10-0)—Amihere 1-7 2-5 4, Boston 7-15 2-4 16, Saxton 3-6 1-2 7, Beal 2-11 1-3 6, Cooke 5-13 8-10 20, Grissett 2-2 1-2 5, Cardoso 2-4 0-1 4, Feagin 0-0 0-0 0, Hall 0-0 0-0 0, Rivers 2-8 0-0 4, Team 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 24-66 15-27 66
Halftime—South Carolina 34-30. 3-Point Goals—Maryland 5-13 (Bibby 0-1, Collins 2-4, Benzan 3-5, Owusu 0-1, Sellers 0-2), South Carolina 3-17 (Amihere 0-1, Boston 0-1, Beal 1-5, Cooke 2-7, Rivers 0-3). Assists—Maryland 6 (Bibby 2), South Carolina 7 (Cooke 2). Fouled Out—Maryland Benzan. Rebounds—Maryland 34 (Team 5-7), South Carolina 61 (Saxton 7-8). Total Fouls—Maryland 21, South Carolina 16. Technical Fouls—None. A—12,862.
This story was originally published December 12, 2021 at 5:10 PM.
