What’s key to No. 1 South Carolina’s success? ‘Relentless’ rebounding plays big role
Rebounding is a hot topic among the Gamecocks every time they step on the floor, Aliyah Boston says.
“Just continue to dominate the boards,” they say. “Give ourselves more opportunities, or cut their opportunities down short.”
No. 1 South Carolina’s strong rebound margin in the 2021-22 season shows that message has gained traction.
The Gamecocks entered their 55-46 win at No. 15 Duke on Wednesday with the nation’s second-best rebound margin, out-gaining the first 10 opponents by 18.8 boards on average.
South Carolina’s last two games came during one of its more daunting stretches in a packed schedule. The Gamecocks beat No. 8 Maryland by 7 points on Sunday and came away from Cameron Indoor Stadium with another single-digit win over Duke on Wednesday.
When South Carolina shot 36.4% from the field and turned the ball over 16 times against Maryland, head coach Dawn Staley said the Gamecocks out-rebounding Maryland by 27 was a “non-negotiable” factor to the win.
That rebounding factor came into play again in the Duke win. The Gamecocks shot 35.1% from the field and committed 17 turnovers, but out-rebounded the Blue Devils 44-26.
“I like the fact that they want to win every basketball game,” Staley said after the Duke win. “I like the fact that they’re resilient. When they don’t play their best basketball, there’s still a burning desire to want to win. We’re rebounding the ball extremely well.”
Staley has said this year’s Gamecocks could be the best defensive team of her 14-year tenure at South Carolina. The assessment is statistically sound, as the Gamecocks entered Tuesday’s game against Duke blocking the most shots in the country (92) as well as holding all but one of their first 11 opponents to 60 points or less.
But Staley said the 2021-22 Gamecocks might also be her best rebounding team, and the two go hand in hand.
“It’s probably a direct relationship with it (between) defense and rebounding,” Staley said after Maryland. “I think we do a really great job at it. It’s not just our bigs. It’s Brea (Beal). She’s on it. It’s our bigs, and our big guards (who) are really holding it down for us.”
Across their last two games, four Gamecocks have grabbed more than 10 rebounds each: Boston (30), Amihere (16), Beal (16) and Saxton (15). Of Saxton’s 15 boards, 13 were rebounded on the offensive end.
Offensive rebounds were key to the Gamecocks’ win over Duke. The Gamecocks came up with 19 off the offensive glass, resulting in 17 second-chance points against Duke’s four points on five offensive rebounds.
“It was offensive rebounds and the second chances that just proved to be too much,” Duke head coach Kara Lawson said after the game. “Their relentless approach to the glass on the offensive end gave us a lot of problems.
“I thought that was the difference in the game. ... 19 extra opportunities at the basket is a little too much to overcome playing a team as talented as they are.”
Staley called rebounding a “fabric” of who the Gamecocks are this year.
“That particular area is where we create separation,” Staley said after Duke. “Hopefully it will continue to the rest of the season.”
As of Tuesday, South Carolina ranked behind just Coastal Carolina in rebound margin, with the Chanticleers’ out-rebounding opponents by an average of 19.2 through eight games. Both USC and Coastal played Wednesday, while the other teams in the top five (Tennessee, North Carolina and Liberty) were idle.
The Chanticleers out-rebounded Saint Mary’s College of California 43-38, moving their rebound margin to 17.7. The Gamecocks’ 44-26 rebound margin against Duke adjusted its average to 18.7, putting the Gamecocks in the nation’s top spot through Wednesday’s games.
Next South Carolina women’s basketball game
Who: No. 1 South Carolina (11-0) vs. No. 3 Stanford (6-2)
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C.
Watch: ESPN2
This story was originally published December 16, 2021 at 8:00 AM.
