No. 2 Gamecocks outlast No. 6 Buckeyes in season opener
South Carolina saw this while trying to get to the Final Four last year. The Gamecocks didn’t sneak up on anybody, so when an opponent was matching them with straight talent, they needed to be tougher, to be stronger.
To be better, which sixth-ranked Ohio State discovered.
The Gamecocks opened their season by gutting out an 88-80 win over the Buckeyes on Friday, pleasing a crowd of 16,815 and extending their home winning streak to 35. USC’s speed dominated early, but the Buckeyes’ dynamic duo of All-American Kelsey Mitchell and Ameryst Alston took over in the middle periods, putting USC behind.
No problem – the Gamecocks (1-0) rallied behind their seniors and their advantageous post players, making up their minds that they may get beat one day, but it won’t be because they were out-toughed.
“I know if this was anywhere else beside here, we would be the losing team,” coach Dawn Staley said.
Forwards Alaina Coates and A’ja Wilson each had double-doubles, combining for 37 points and 27 rebounds, constantly muscling past OSU’s overwhelmed posts and sending them to the bench with fouls. Mitchell and Alston had 59 points between them, and it was nearly enough. But when the Gamecocks began targeting their bigs, they moved ahead.
Coates and Wilson scored USC’s last eight field goals. Sarah Imovbioh came alive after a foul-studded first half to snare 10 rebounds and score eight, while senior point guard Khadijah Sessions starred early and late. Ohio State (0-1) liked to run, and Sessions was more than happy to engage in a track meet, since she could always flip the ball to another of the Gamecocks’ constellation of stars – All-American Tiffany Mitchell.
Mitchell had 15, crossing up the Buckeyes with her dizzying drives and always there to take a charge, block a shot or record one of her four steals. She had eight turnovers, but there was no doubt who USC wanted with the ball in her hands.
“When they were on their run, we know we lost a big lead in the first half. We had to get ourselves together,” Mitchell said. “We had to get it to our post players. We have some of the best post players in the country.”
TURNING POINT
As she did in the last three games of 2014-15, guard Bianca Cuevas fanned the Gamecocks’ fading sparks into a fire. Her driving layup tied the game at 68 in the fourth, then she found Imovbioh underneath for a lead-taking layup. USC’s “big girls” took them home from there.
3 POINTS
Star of the game: Coates shook off a 50 percent shooting night from the line to score 17 points with 13 rebounds, blocking three shots as well. She was targeted late and produced throughout the fourth quarter.
Play of the game: Wilson hit a short jumper to give USC an 80-78 lead with 2:17 to play. It was immediately after the Gamecocks blew a seven-point lead.
Stat of the game: The Gamecocks were 12-for-21 from the field in the fourth quarter. Coates, Wilson and Imovbioh had 11 of the 12.
FROM THE BASELINE
Senior D: Khadijah Sessions resembled the elite scorer she was at Myrtle Beach High more than she ever has at USC. She scored six of the Gamecocks’ first 15 points and said she wants to push tempo more this year.
Waves: If it’s possible, the Gamecocks are even more dangerous than they were last year. With Jatarie White finally healthy, USC can keep rolling in prep All-American after prep All-American.
Chessmaster: Staley started Wilson and Tina Roy, then put in Asia Dozier and Alaina Coates for the second half. She’ll be able to mix and match to counter any opponent from the tip.
UP NEXT
Who: South Carolina vs. UNC Greensboro
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia
TV: SEC Network Plus
BOX SCORE
OHIO ST. (0-1): K. Mitchell 10-24 12-13 36, Craft 1-3 3-4 5, Alston 8-19 3-3 23, Hart 1-5 0-0 2, Cooper 2-17 0-0 4, Holland 2-4 0-0 5, Doss 1-2 0-0 3, Blair 1-3 0-0 2, Waterman 0-3 0-0 0, Ekhelar 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-80 18-20 80.
SOUTH CAROLINA (1-0): Sessions 3-8 6-8 12, Wilson 8-18 4-4 20, Roy 1-6 0-0 3, Imovbioh 4-5 0-2 8, Mitchell 6-12 1-2 15, Colley 0-0 0-0 0, Cuevas 1-5 3-4 5, Duckett 0-1 0-0 0, Dozier 1-2 2-2 4, White 1-3 2-3 4, Coates 6-9 5-10 17. Totals 31-69 23-35 88.
Halftime_Ohio St. 47-45. 3-Point Goals_Ohio St. 10-23 (Alston 4-5, K. Mitchell 4-9, Doss 1-1, Holland 1-3, Craft 0-1, Cooper 0-4), South Carolina 3-11 (Mitchell 2-4, Roy 1-6, Cuevas 0-1). Fouled Out_Cooper. Rebounds_Ohio St. 42 (Cooper 15), South Carolina 51 (Wilson 14). Assists_Ohio St. 3 (Cooper, Doss, K.Mitchell 1), South Carolina 11 (Mitchell, Sessions 3). Total Fouls_Ohio St. 29, South Carolina 20. Attendance_16,815.
This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 10:47 PM.