Gamecocks hammer Newberry in exhibition

Tiffany Mitchell didn’t practice for much of the preseason. The effects of offseason foot surgery and her importance to this year’s team dictated that she rest as much as possible.

Good thing All-Americans don’t rust.

Second-ranked South Carolina’s two-time SEC Player of the Year showed no signs of her long layoff in a 93-49 exhibition whitewash of Newberry on Friday. Mitchell scored 13 points with three assists and two steals in 13 minutes, seamlessly sliding into the role expected of her.

Mitchell has long been USC’s most talented player, but the leader of the team since she arrived was the departed Aleighsa Welch. USC coach Dawn Staley told Mitchell ever since last year ended that more was expected of her. While not demanding she be more vocal or change her leadership style, Staley told Mitchell she had to be the one with the answers.

Mitchell, never a screamer, nodded and went to work. Newberry never knew what hit it.

With only eight Gamecocks dressed because of injuries and illness, Mitchell fed Khadijah Sessions for the Gamecocks’ first points. She stroked free throws, shot the 3, played defense and brought the crowd to its feet with the first of what she hopes are numerous senior highlights.

After picking off a pass and embarking on a 2-on-1 break, Mitchell flipped the ball behind her back to let Sessions finish. The crowd showered its adoration, Mitchell shrugged, flipped her blonde-tipped ponytail over her shoulder and kept playing.

You know, leading.

“She is one that leads by example, but she’s also one that will give us what we need. If it’s leadership, vocally, she’s been that for us,” Staley said. “When she has to suit up next Friday, she’ll know what she’ll need to do.”

A 19-4 run in the second quarter dispatched the Wolves, who dressed 14 but had no answer for the Gamecocks. A four-point deficit ballooned to 16 as USC began feeding the ball inside to Alaina Coates and Jatarie White. Coates scored a game-high 24 points while White, who sat most of last season with foot injuries, added 19.

Mitchell only played three minutes in the second half as Staley let her other players work their way into the rotation. Senior Sarah Imovbioh showed how she got her reputation for rebounding, grabbing 11 boards. She scored eight points after her first touch was a turnover and her second shot was blocked.

Senior Tina Roy played her finest game, doing anything that needed to be done while playing every minute. Staley said that Mitchell’s absence in the preseason allowed other players to show off their skills, and those that played proved her correct.

“Well, I said I wanted to work on other parts of my game, but I know I shot a lot of 3s tonight, so it still shows that I shoot,” Roy said.

Mitchell was content to be an observer for most of the second half. The foot was fine. But the more help she gets when the games start to count, as they will when No. 6 Ohio State visits in a week, the better off the team is going to be.

“I knew I was going to be limited coming into this game,” Mitchell said. “Rest, save my body.”

NOTES: Bianca Cuevas was scratched before tipoff when she reported to warm-ups and wasn’t feeling well. She joined A’ja Wilson (foot), Shay Colley (hip pointer), Asia Dozier (ankle) and Doniyah Cliney (hand, will be out several weeks) on the bench.

Staley said that all but Cliney should be fine for Ohio State.

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This story was originally published November 6, 2015 at 8:45 PM with the headline "Gamecocks hammer Newberry in exhibition."