South Carolina meets Miami in March Madness. How to watch, what to know
Dawn Staley knows what happened the last time top-seeded South Carolina ran into a red-hot team on a winning streak — it ended in a final-second loss to Kentucky for the SEC tournament championship.
The Gamecocks’ head coach is aware of the success No. 8 seed Miami (21-12) is having on its road to Sunday’s meeting in Round 2 of the NCAA women’s tournament. The storyline is familiar to USC, which has the opportunity to rewrite its recent narrative against trending teams.
“We get a chance to avenge it,” Staley said. “(We’ll) be more prepared and aware of it and actually do something about it.”
South Carolina could be without two key bench contributors against the Hurricanes.
Staley said sophomore Kamilla Cardoso, the Gamecocks’ 6-foot-7 Syracuse transfer who is averaging 5.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 14 minutes per game, was “feeling better” Saturday after leaving the Howard game with an apparent injury in the third quarter.
Freshman Saniya Rivers, who is averaging 2.4 points with 11 steals and 12 blocks in 13.2 minutes per game, didn’t play against Howard due to a “coach’s decision.” Staley said Rivers will be a game-time decision against Miami.
The Gamecocks (30-2) face the Hurricanes in Colonial Life Arena at 3 p.m. Sunday, with a ticket to the Sweet 16 in Greensboro, North Carolina, next weekend on the line. Sunday’s game will be broadcast on ABC, the Gamecocks’ second appearance on the network this season.
Here’s what to know before USC’s Round 2 game.
Gamecocks focused on shooting, defense
Though South Carolina throttled No. 16 seed Howard 79-21 in the NCAA tournament’s opening round Friday, Staley said the Gamecocks can’t afford another shooting performance like Round 1.
South Carolina went 28 of 79 (35%) from the field and 8 of 38 (21%) from 3-point range, both marks Staley said she’s trusting will be corrected.
“I thought we took good shots, they just didn’t go in,” Staley said. “I don’t know if Miami will play as extreme as Howard played us. Howard did a great job picking their poison and forcing us to shoot from the outside. Miami, they may. We’ve got to hit shots.”
Gamecock veteran forward Victaria Saxton, a senior playing her last game in Columbia on Sunday, knows one of the most important factors for South Carolina has been its defense. The Gamecocks have the country’s best field-goal percentage defense, holding opponents to 32.4% from the field, and the third-best scoring defense (50.8 points per game).
“I just think we have to go out there and there continue doing what we do defensively,” Saxton said. “I think we’re a great defensive team. We just have to go out there and be disciplined to what we do.”
In its SEC tournament championship loss to Kentucky, South Carolina gave up a 15-point, second-half lead in the fourth quarter, as the Wildcats rode hot shooting to the eventual tournament crown.
For junior guard Brea Beal, consistency will be key to Sunday’s game.
“I think (it’s) really putting the emphasis on consistency from start to finish,” Beal said. “We have to definitely hammer down on that from the beginning of the jump ball to when the clock runs out.”
Holding off the Hurricanes
Miami flashed its scorching offense in its Round 1 win over South Florida on Friday, shooting 53.6% on 30 of 56 from the field to cruise to the 78-66 win.
The Hurricanes’ shooting prowess catapulted them to an upset win over No. 1 seed Louisville in their upset victory during the ACC tournament, and head coach Katie Meier knows they’ll need that offense for Sunday’s matchup against the Gamecocks.
“I think our offense showed up (against South Florida), and we’re going to need it,” Meier said. “This is a beautiful team, South Carolina. They’re just beautiful. They play hard. They defend like they’re lives depend on it, and they keep things really simple and really go to their strengths.”
Miami guard Ja’Leah Williams and forward Lola Pendande have seen how the Gamecocks played a historic first half against Howard on Friday, holding the Bison to just four points in the first 20 minutes.
Both are taking what they learned from Miami’s win over Louisville to the South Carolina game.
“We’ve been here before,” Pendande said. “Played against one of the best teams in the country. ... I don’t feel intimidated. We’ve been in this situation. I think we’re capable of winning if (we) play Miami basketball.”
Aliyah Boston seeking 26th straight double-double
Gamecocks star Aliyah Boston earned her 25th straight double-double in South Carolina’s last game against Howard. Earning another against Miami on Sunday would give her 27 for the season, the most in the country this year.
She’s been a factor on both ends of the floor for South Carolina as the SEC’s second-leading blocker (2.66 per game) and the Gamecocks’ leading scorer (16.6 points per game).
The Hurricanes know they’ll have to look out for Boston, a national Player of the Year contender, in a number of ways.
“The thing that I am really most impressed with Aliyah Boston is her game management, composure and IQ, her mental approach to the game,” Meier said. “It’s not just, ‘Oh, my God, she’s big and can get a double-double.’ She’s really crafty. She’s really intelligent. She’s really smart. She puts the ball in the right spot. She’s as good as advertised or better.”
Round 2: How to watch South Carolina vs Miami in NCAA women’s basketball tournament
Who: No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks (30-2, 15-1 SEC) vs. No. 8 Miami Hurricanes (21-12, 10-8 ACC)
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C.
Watch on TV and stream: ABC on TV and streaming on ESPN app
