How Destanni Henderson’s return pushed South Carolina to comeback win over Stanford
Destanni Henderson took her three-game absence as a learning experience.
She looked on from the bench throughout much of December as South Carolina women’s basketball defeated Kansas State, No. 8 Maryland and No. 15 Duke, taking note of how the Gamecocks played while she healed from a lower leg injury sustained against North Carolina A&T on Nov. 29.
Henderson used three weeks to return at full force for No. 1 USC’s 65-61 win over No. 2 Stanford on Tuesday at Colonial Life Arena. She scored 17 points, added seven assists and tallied a career-high seven steals.
“(I realized) that my team actually needs me,” Henderson said of the time spent recovering. “I have a role on this team. When I’m out there, I gotta make sure I make it count.”
Henderson played a starring role in the marquee matchup with historic results. South Carolina (12-0) came back from an 18-point deficit to defeat Stanford (8-3), the largest comeback in program history according to ESPN. The Gamecocks are the first team in 22 years to record five wins against AP top 10 teams before January, ESPN reported.
Head coach Dawn Staley characterized Henderson’s status as “day to day” throughout her starting point guard’s recovery process, and said the team’s medical staff targeted Henderson’s return date for the Stanford game.
Staley knew Henderson was itching to get back on the court, and an effort was made to get her cleared before the Duke game on Dec. 15.
But Henderson’s return came right at the time the Gamecocks needed her most.
Stanford stifled South Carolina’s offense throughout the first half, carrying a 14-point lead into the locker room behind a 53.1% to 28.6% first-half shooting advantage. Henderson knew the Gamecocks’ could build back on a strong defensive effort in the second half, and she catalyzed their third-quarter surge.
“She bottled it up and performed at the time we really needed her to perform,” Staley said.
Henderson grabbed five steals from the Cardinal in the third quarter alone, helping the Gamecocks score 12 points off Stanford turnovers. She searched for the right shots, tallying four assists in the period. She added 6 points on 50% from the field in the quarter.
Henderson said she pushed the Gamecocks to focus on defense, an effort that limited Stanford to just seven points in the third quarter after scoring 21 in both the first and second periods. The Gamecocks’ 22-7 advantage in the third quarter gave them a one-point lead heading into the fourth.
“Henny brings a different dimension, a different speed,” Staley said. “It allows our guards to defend better. When she’s upfront with her pressure, it allows us to relax a little bit. ... Her one-on-one defense was great. Her ability to get steals and breakout layups is what we needed to jump-start our offense.”
Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer agreed, praising Henderson’s steals and aggressive play.
“(South Carolina is) very different with her,” VanDerveer said. “If she would’ve waited one game [to return], I would have been happy.”
Henderson didn’t enjoy being off the floor, but she took the weeks healing as a time to study. Henderson’s performance against Stanford showed that the mentality she kept in the recovery process paid off.
“(It was) just being disciplined, staying focused and believing in myself,” Henderson said. “Believing in my teammates, and just trusting each other.”
Next South Carolina women’s basketball game
Who: USC at Missouri
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 30
Where: Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.
Watch: SEC Network
This story was originally published December 22, 2021 at 8:51 AM.
