No. 2 Gamecocks overcome sloppy three quarters to cage Pirates

It worked every time South Carolina tried it.

It was a mystery why the No. 2 Gamecocks didn’t do it more.

USC (10-0) swept past Hampton 86-48 on Wednesday, although it was anything but the domination the score reflected. Lethargic, sloppy, unfocused … just all-around bad basketball had the Gamecocks struggling to get any rhythm offensively and unable to take advantage of an undersized Pirates team on defense.

Alaina Coates, who had a triple-double in her last game, and Sarah Imovbioh combined for 41 points. Pounding the ball inside was an effective approach, since it resulted in at least a second-chance opportunity.

Yet, the Gamecocks seemed unable to figure that out. Turnovers while throwing inside to a team whose tallest regular defender was 6-foot-2, backing away from a zone instead of attacking it, showing a disinterest on defense wasn’t exactly what “The Show” promised to deliver this season.

“For some reason, we felt like it was crowded down low,” Imovbioh said. “Once we got it going, we found some space.”

Dawn Staley recently said she’d rather be playing badly and winning instead of playing well and losing. The Gamecocks won because they have better talent.

They need more, and Staley let them know it.

“It’s always great to see us pull ourselves out of the hole we dug, but it’s also disheartening to see us start that way,” she said. “We’re a work in progress, and when we put it all together, we’re going to be a tremendous basketball team.”

Two-time SEC Player of the Year Tiffany Mitchell was 0-for-7 in the first half and finished 4-of-11 (for 17 points). Senior guards Khadijah Sessions and Asia Dozier had 11 points, six rebounds, seven assists and four turnovers. The Gamecocks couldn’t put away a team that dropped to 1-8 until the Pirates began fouling out.

Not having A’ja Wilson, out for the second straight game with nagging injuries, does affect what the Gamecocks want to do but they still have plenty of height and All-American talent without her. USC pulled away late as the inside game had sparse resistance – but it had that early in the game, too.

“Either we were too early or a little too late,” Coates said. “We just made sure we were more available, and made it clear to our guards that we were wide-open.”

Staley wasn’t throwing chairs or grinding her teeth. She calmly said she’s still figuring out rotations and there is a lot of improvement that can be made.

USC isn’t plummeting from the elite by a long shot. But the Gamecocks aren’t controlling games like they have.

“Just a slow start. Just low energy. I don’t know why,” Staley said. “Not like we haven’t seen zone to start a basketball game. Just took a really long time to get some fluidity in our offense.”

TURNING POINT

Mitchell hit two 3-pointers to break her personal drought in the third period. While the team’s struggles didn’t disappear, it gave the Gamecocks enough room so they didn’t have to worry about a Hampton rally.

3 POINTS

Star of the game: Coates handled her business for the second straight game, posting a double-double with 22 and 12. It wasn’t her fault she didn’t get the ball more.

Play of the game: Any time the ball touched paint on offense, it was a good play. There weren’t enough of them.

Stat of the game: The Gamecocks’ 52 rebounds at least solidified that the Pirates wouldn’t be getting multiple chances on their possessions.

FROM THE BASELINE

No Muffin: Aleighsa Welch, the heart and soul of last year’s Final Four team, was courtside. Her points and rebounds have been replaced. The grittiness, toughness and will to win, it’s safe to say, hasn’t. While it’s hard to order someone to be a leader … the Gamecocks need somebody to deliver a swift kick when needed.

Continental: Dozier replaced Tina Roy in the starting lineup. While Roy continues to hit some big 3-pointers, her production on each end of the floor has been off in recent games. Dozier, a senior who’s started the majority of 63 wins over the two previous seasons, didn’t play great Wednesday but still managed to have a small impact – she had five assists, two steals and six points.

UP NEXT

Who: South Carolina vs. East Carolina

When: 1 p.m. Sunday

Where: Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Myrtle Beach

TV: None

This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 8:52 PM.