South Carolina had a specific wrinkle in game plan to beat LSU. It worked
Dawn Staley made at least one public declaration before South Carolina played five straight matchups against ranked teams: She hoped the Gamecocks would use their depth to their advantage in that stretch.
The team did just that against LSU on Friday night.
No. 2 South Carolina (19-1, 7-0 SEC) handed No. 5 LSU (20-1, 5-1 SEC) its first loss of the year, 66-56, thanks in part to its ability to outlast the Tigers.
Kim Mulkey ran nine different players out onto the floor on Friday, but her starters saw most of the playing time. LSU’s starters averaged 34 minutes of action in the game, led by Aneesah Morrow (38). Only one of LSU’s starters, Sa’Myah Smith, played under 30 minutes in the game — barely missing the cut at 29 minutes.
“One of the most important things was to tire them out,” South Carolina guard Bree Hall said. “I think having a team like this that we have, with a bench that’s just so deep, I think going into these games it is really important for us to get into (the opponent’s) bench.”
The four who came off the bench for LSU in the game saw a combined 29 minutes of run. Kailyn Gilbert led the bench with 15 minutes of play. No other Tigers bench player saw more than nine minutes of the court.
While fatigue could have contributed to LSU’s loss, Mulkey credited South Carolina’s ability to stay fresh due to the depth of its roster.
“Well, you’ve got 10 McDonald’s All-Americans. Flip a coin, y’all can play any of them you want. Got to keep them happy, right?” Mulkey said. “I don’t have that. I’ve got to go with what I have, what I feel in my gut. Fatigue could play a part, but I always tend to give credit to the opponent. The shots we miss could have been fatigued. The shots we miss could have been their good defense.”
LSU’s starters did see some success, notably Morrow’s double-double: 15 points and 16 rebounds. Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams both had 13 points as well.
Staley said tiring out LSU’s starters was “absolutely” part of South Carolina’s game plan.
“Keep pushing the ball down the floor, keep making them work hard for catches,” Staley said. “Yes, we know they play six or seven players, and you have to use that against them. They’re that talented that if you allow them to rest on defense, they have more energy to take advantage of you on offense.”
South Carolina entered the game leading the country with 42.7 bench points per game. The Gamecocks bench typically accounts for 51.7% of their total offense night in and night out.
Joyce Edwards, Tessa Johnson and MiLaysia Fulwiley fueled South Carolina off the bench in the win over LSU.
Edwards scored 14 points and brought in four rebounds in 18 minutes of action. Fulwiley had eight points, three rebounds and three steals in 15 minutes while Johnson had nine points, three rebounds and three assists in 22 minutes. Together they outscored LSU’s bench 31-2.
“I always tell our bench: ‘You’re the number one bench in the country,’ ” Staley said. “... They could go other places and start, but I’ve gotta let them know what they mean to our team.
“We don’t win without the contributions in the first half of MiLaysia Fulwiley. She had it going on. She was getting to the bucket, she was assisting. And then you come back and Tessa hits the biggest shot of the game. ...You’ve got Joyce — Joyce is, I’m gonna put it out there, Joyce is going to be the best player in college basketball one day.”
Mulkey said she’d never coached against a team with depth like South Carolina’s.
“I’m gonna call Dawn and tell her to send me some of those she doesn’t play,” Mulkey joked. “I don’t think she’ll do it though.”
