Gamecocks must learn from narrow win to sweep Texas A&M

The SEC’s rotating schedule sometimes groups teams that just played each other against each other again in the span of two weeks. So when it comes to second-ranked South Carolina preparing a scouting report for No. 10 Texas A&M, the one the Gamecocks used for Jan. 17 is still serviceable.

USC should pay more attention to it this time, after a crazy ending allowed the Gamecocks to escape that game with a one-point win.

“Always working on my free throws,” senior Khadijah Sessions. “We shouldn’t let nobody get behind us like that. But the game played out how it played out and it came down to free throws and I knocked one down.”

USC had the game nearly won, leading by two in the final seconds, but an 85-foot pass from the baseline connected with a streaking Chelsea Jennings, who laid in the ball to tie and force overtime.

Or so it seemed. The Aggies’ Shlonte Allen unthinkingly fouled Sessions after the layup, putting the senior on the line to win the game. Sessions made one of two and USC slipped past, 59-58.

Heading to Texas A&M, where one of the Gamecocks’ three league losses in the past three seasons occurred, USC’s concentrating on what it didn’t do well in the first meeting at Colonial Life Arena. It shouldn’t be fooled by another full-court pass in an end-game situation.

As for the 39 minutes before that …

“We just had a good look at them,” senior Tiffany Mitchell said. “We’re just going to have to make it hard on them.”

Mitchell and Sessions will be entrusted with sticking to the Aggies’ guards, who supplied the scoring for Texas A&M in the last game. Courtney Walker, Jennings and Jordan Jones were masterful at pulling up and hitting a 10-to-15-foot jumper, and equally adept at setting screens so the others could shoot. They combined to score 47 points on 48 percent shooting from the field.

The strategy caught the Gamecocks off guard, as they’ve been accustomed to opponents who force the ball inside, score in transition or shot 3-pointers. They tried to adjust mid-game, but they never really got a handle on it. To keep pace with the Aggies, South Carolina relied on twin towers A’ja Wilson and Alaina Coates.

Practice on Friday was spent getting around screens and picking up switches. USC’s defense will have to communicate and play help-side. Coach Dawn Staley tinkered with Coates playing the high post on defense last game, and that may be seen this game.

“As efficiently as they shoot it, you got to try to junk it up a little bit,” Staley said. “Got to have some disruption above what they do in half-court.”

That means Sessions and Mitchell will have to pick up Walker, Jones and Jennings at mid-court and keep a hand in their face.

“You got to make sure those guards don’t get in their comfort zone, which is 17 feet and in,” Sessions said. “With our speed on the outside, I think we’re going to do a lot better job this game.

“Woman up. Just woman up.”

This story was originally published January 30, 2016 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Gamecocks must learn from narrow win to sweep Texas A&M."