Why Dawn Staley thanked UConn after South Carolina’s latest win over Huskies
No. 1 South Carolina defeated No. 11 UConn 83-65 Sunday at Colonial Life Arena. It tied the Gamecocks’ largest margin of victory over the Huskies in program history. USC has now won four in a row and five of its last six meetings against the team coach Dawn Staley referred to earlier in the week as the best program of the century.
Here’s a quick recap of Staley’s postgame press conference Sunday:
Thanking UConn, Geno Auriemma for helping build up USC WBB
“You have to thank UConn because for the first part of our home-and-home, they got nothing out of it besides another blowout. And then they continued the home-and-home. And it allowed us to grow as a program, to measure, to stack ourselves up against who they are. And it doesn’t happen without that commitment, that ‘We’re gonna keep playing’ mentality.
“I thank Geno for continuing to play us. He’s helped us grow this program. He’s helped our program grow, and that’s what you want. And I hope we’re helping other programs grown in the same manner.”
Te-Hina Paopao’s shooting slump and recovery
Heading into Sunday’s game, USC starting guard Te-Hina Paopao led the Gamecocks and ranked second in the nation in 3-point percentage (48.5%). But five of her previous six games had marked tough outside shooting days for her, averaging 29.4% from 3 in that six-game stretch.
The UConn game marked a stark improvement. She sank four 3s in the first half, tying her season high last achieved at Florida to open SEC play. Paopao finished with 21 points (a season high, including five 3s), three rebounds, two assists, three turnovers and a steal.
“’We gotta get going, Pao,’” Staley said she told her senior guard over the course of her shooting slump. “But she knows. She’s very aware of what she means our basketball team. She’s aware of her play. But even through the shooting woes, we wanted her to continue to shoot. You gotta stay in rhythm. When you take good shots, they’ll find their way into the basket.”
High praise for UConn’s Paige Bueckers
“We just wanted her to not shoot 54%,” Staley said of how her team guarded UConn’s leading scorer Paige Bueckers. “That’s a win. That’s a win because Paige doesn’t take bad shots. She only takes shots that are makeable.”
Bueckers finished with 20 points Sunday on 40% shooting, including 33.3% from 3.
“I love Paige’s game,” Staley said. “I would like for her to take more shots if I’m Geno. I want her to take more shots because she doesn’t take bad shots. She’s got great court vision. She’s got great court awareness. Paige is gonna be an Olympian at some point, too.”
How Ashlyn Watkins made herself indispensable
Ashlyn Watkins made her fourth consecutive start Sunday against the Huskies, filling in for forward Chloe Kitts at Auburn when she was sidelined with an illness and for center Kamilla Cardoso (who’s been playing with Brazil Basketball in an Olympic Qualifying Tournament this week). Watkins finished Sunday with 15 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals.
“Ashlyn is impressive,” Staley said. “Like, super impressive. I think with her having more responsibility, she’s thriving in it on both sides of the floor. I can hear her talk and quarterback our defense. She’s pushing Breezy (Hall) out because Breezy’s stuck on the screen. It’s beautiful. It really is.
“I’m super proud of her. Because she wasn’t a starter. I know she wanted to start, and it bothered her to a point of actually showing me what we’re missing out on with her not starting. And I don’t want to start any friction, but we have to have Ashlyn on the floor. We have to have Ashlyn on the floor. When Kamilla (Cardoso) comes back, whether she (Watkins) stays in the starting lineup or she comes off the bench, we have to have on the floor. She’s proven that. She’s grown from Kamilla’s absence.”
This story was originally published February 11, 2024 at 5:40 PM.
