South Carolina hosts Stanford in Gamecocks’ latest 1-2 showdown. 3 things to know
.JPG "South Carolina guard Zia Cooke, center, drives to the basket between Stanford guard Kiana Williams (23) and guard Anna Wilson (3) during the first half of a women’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game Friday, April 2, 2021, at the Alamodome in San Antonio.")
No. 1 South Carolina gets a shot at redemption Tuesday when it meets No. 2 Stanford, facing coach Tara VanDerveer and star player Haley Jones in Columbia.
Last season, South Carolina’s national championship hopes ended in a heartbreak at the Final Four against Stanford. The Gamecocks fell to the Cardinal 66-65 after missing two late shots, and Stanford went on to win the national championship.
South Carolina has come to terms with last season and has been focused on turning the page since the week after it happened back in April, head coach Dawn Staley said.
“I think we’re a totally different team than we were last year, certainly from an offensive standpoint,” Staley said Monday. “From a defensive standpoint, I think we’re a little more sharp in what we’re doing on both sides of the basketball. We’re at home, so that should help.
“We want to win because we want to win. If we can do that, and people think it’s avenging a loss, great. We’re just trying to focus on this year.”
How to watch South Carolina vs. Stanford women’s basketball game
Who: No. 1 South Carolina (11-0) vs. No. 2 Stanford (8-2)
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C.
Watch: ESPN2
Here’s what to watch for in the Gamecocks’ matchup with Stanford.
Destanni Henderson to return
Destanni Henderson, South Carolina’s starting point guard, hasn’t played since the first half of the 79-42 win over North Carolina A&T on Nov. 29 as she recovers from a leg injury.
Staley has called Henderson’s status “day to day” throughout the month of December, though the Gamecocks’ veteran has been participating in practice and warm-ups.
Henderson has made more strides ahead of Stanford and should play Tuesday, Staley said.
“She’s had some good days now,” Staley said. “Henny will be out there getting some type of minutes.”
The Gamecocks have been without her for wins over Kansas State, No. 8 Maryland and No. 15 Duke, but Staley said there have been positives through the stretch without Henderson.
For one, Laeticia Amihere has stepped up as a backup point guard because of Henderson’s absence and an early-season injury to freshman Raven Johnson. Staley says seeing Amihere grow in different roles has only helped the team.
“We were forced to learn some things that were unforeseen,” Staley said. “I like the fact that we’re resilient. We’re a team that if you have a person hurt here or there, the bottom doesn’t fall out. We’re the next woman up, and I like that mentality.”
Gamecocks set for second 1-2 matchup of the season
Stanford earned a No. 2 ranking in Monday’s newest Associated Press poll, which gives the No. 1 Gamecocks their second game against a No. 2 team during the 2021-22 season.
South Carolina has been a unanimous No. 1 in the AP poll for five consecutive weeks since it defeated then-No. 2 UConn. But Staley said the Gamecocks aren’t satisfied — they know they haven’t put together the perfect performance yet.
“We’re in the number one spot, (but) if we weren’t, we’d be gunning for the team that’s in this spot,” Staley said. “I think our players are handling it well, because we don’t think very highly of ourselves. We know what our weaknesses are, and we know we have yet to put a complete game together.”
The Gamecocks have played the second-strongest schedule in the nation according to RealTimeRPI, which includes six matchups within the AP top 15 and three within the top five.
Staley said she’s seen the tough slate bring out the best from South Carolina’s star players. Preseason All-American Aliyah Boston averages 19.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and three blocks per game against the Gamecocks’ first five top-25 opponents this season, and Zia Cooke is averaging 16.2 points per game against ranked opponents.
“Aliyah can get 25 and 12 against some lesser opponents, but the fact that she’s able to do that against the top teams in the country gives her a great deal of confidence,” Staley said. “The same with Zia. Zia scores a lot of points against the top 25. We played well without Henny in some spurts, now we’re able to get back a little bit. It only strengthens our team.”
Stanford boasts guard Haley Jones, last year’s Final Four Most Outstanding Player who scored 24 points the last time the Cardinal played South Carolina. Staley is also preparing for Cameron Brink, Stanford’s sophomore forward who’s averaging 14.2 points per game.
Though Brink was limited by early foul trouble in Stanford’s last win over Tennessee, Staley said the Gamecocks are preparing for her to be on the floor much longer Tuesday.
“Their offense, they’ll space you out, they back-door cut you, there’s a (fluidity) to it,” Staley said. “We have to disrupt that. ... We have to play with them at full force, and hopefully we can be full force in it.”
Staley calls for masks in Colonial Life Arena
As the omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to spread across the country, positive cases in basketball programs have postponed or canceled a number of games and put a wear on rosters.
Saturday, COVID-19 cases in the No. 4 Arizona women’s basketball program canceled the Wildcats’ game scheduled against No. 11 Texas for Sunday. The Gamecocks’ men’s basketball team was without four players in their most recent game against Clemson.
Staley closed Monday’s press conference with a message for fans attending the Stanford game to be sure to wear masks.
“I would like to just ask our FAMs that are coming to the game if they wouldn’t mind wearing a mask, so we don’t have to change the policies that are in place right now and we decrease the number of people that are getting sick,” Staley said. “A lot of games are being canceled out there. I’m just asking you in here, Colonial Life Arena. I’m not trying to make decisions or force you to do anything, but if we want to be in this building for the remainder of our season, we’re going to have to do something.”
USC did not release any special COVID-19 policies ahead of the the 2021-22 basketball season. Full capacity is allowed in the arena, and mask wearing is not enforced in the stands or on the concourse.
This story was originally published December 21, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
