No. 1 South Carolina travels to Arkansas for SEC matchup. How to watch, what to know
South Carolina women’s basketball hits the road before a week-long break, traveling to face Mike Neighbors’ Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The game tips off at 3:30 p.m. Sunday and will be televised by ESPN2.
The Razorbacks (11-5, 1-2 SEC) were off for a week after winning their first conference game against Missouri on Jan. 9. Before its matchup against the top-ranked Gamecocks, Arkansas faced two other top 10 teams this season, falling to then-No. 2 UConn by 15 points on Nov. 14 and then-No. 7 Tennessee by seven earlier this month.
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said Saturday the Gamecocks (16-1, 4-1 SEC) will be without one player due to health and safety protocols, but all starters will be available for the game at Arkansas. Staley didn’t identify which player would miss the trip.
Here are key storylines to know ahead of the Sunday afternoon game.
Razorbacks are young, strong offensively
Eight of Arkansas’ 13 players are underclassmen, with the young roster including six freshmen.
A pair of first-year Razorbacks have found success early, as Samara Spencer and Jersey Wolfenbarger have each earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors in the 2021-22 season. Both have now carved out roles in the Razorbacks’ starting five in SEC play.
Spencer is averaging 9.4 points per game on 41.3% from the field, including a 38.3% clip from behind the arc. Wolfenbarger averages 7.1 points per game on 42.1% shooting.
“They’re young, but you can see what they want to do,” Staley said. “It takes a little bit longer to get some younger ones to understand the style of play, their tendencies, but they’re growing. They aren’t like they were a month ago, so they’re moving in the right direction.”
The Razorbacks are strong from 3-point range, ranking ninth in the NCAA with 146 made 3-pointers this season. Four Arkansas players average 11 points or more per game.
Veteran guard Makayla Daniels leads the way for Arkansas, averaging 14.4 points on 45.8% from the field. Redshirt senior Amber Ramirez has heated up in SEC play, scoring 20.7 on average against conference opponents.
“(Mike Neighbors) always has basically five players, at least four out of five on the floor, that can knock down threes,” Staley said. “With the defense like we play, spread out, it just opens you up for downhill drives, and he’s got downhill drivers as well. He just puts a lot of pressure on your defense.”
Aliyah Boston heads to Fayetteville with program record
Aliyah Boston continues to shine as the Gamecocks’ leading scorer and rebounder heading into the Arkansas matchup.
Boston carries her program-record 10 consecutive double-doubles into Sunday’s matchup. She averages 17.2 points and 11.4 boards per game and leads the SEC in field goal percentage (57.5%).
Against Texas A&M, Boston finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds, securing her 10th straight double-double before halftime.
“It’s pretty exciting, because coach puts an emphasis all the time on rebounding the ball,” Boston said after the Texas A&M game. “So being able to get my rebounding numbers up is pretty good, and that means that we’re doing as she asks, so it’s a happy day.”
She plays a primary role in South Carolina’s SEC-leading 49.6 rebounds per game in conference play.
Boston saw success when the Gamecocks played the Razorbacks last season, tallying 26 points, 16 rebounds and six blocks in South Carolina’s 104-82 win on Jan. 18, 2021.
Staley sees Gamecocks improving offensively in SEC play
Staley has seen improvement through South Carolina’s first five games of conference action.
She says those developments have been across the entire team, from starters to reserves, both in practice and on the floor in game time. Staley is optimistic about USC’s improvements on offense and the growth she’s seen early in SEC play.
“I see us getting better,” Staley said. “I see spots in games where our reserves are giving us some things that are promising for us to see. I think we are coming out of just a lull in our play.”
Staley also pointed out that she’s been pleased with the Gamecocks’ shooting percentage in SEC play, aside from the last game against Texas A&M.
USC shot 35.3% against the Aggies but averaged 43.8% in conference play before Thursday’s game, including three contests in which the Gamecocks shot 44% or better.
“We’re taking good shots, we really are,” Staley said. “We’re in a position where we have an understanding of where shots are coming from. ... We have to put people back on their heels a little bit, we’ve got to get some more attacks to the basket.”
The Gamecocks have found a large amount of their success on the defensive end and are ranked 16th in the nation, allowing 53.5 points per game.
How to watch South Carolina vs. Arkansas women’s basketball game
Who: No. 1 South Carolina (16-1, 4-1 SEC) vs. Arkansas Razorbacks (11-5, 1-2 SEC)
When: Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
Where: Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas
