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***2020-21 #2/1 South Carolina (15-1) at #3/5 Connecticut Game Thread***

ConwayGamecock

ConwayGamecock

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#2/1 South Carolina Gamecocks at #3/5 Connecticut Huskies​



#2/1 SOUTH CAROLINA (15-1, 10-0) AT #3/5 UCONN (13-1, 11-0)
7 P.M.   |  STORRS, CONN.  | GAMPEL PAVILION

South Carolina Game Notes (PDF) | WATCH: FS1 | LISTEN: 107.5 THE GAME | Live Stats | Staley Media Availability

ABOUT THIS GAME

  • The South Carolina-UConn series includes the nation's top ranked team for the eighth time tonight with the Gamecocks carrying the title for the third time.
  • This is the Gamecocks' third trip to Gampel Pavilion under head coach Dawn Staley. Their most recent visit was a 66-55 UConn victory on Feb. 13, 2017, meaning no current Gamecock has played in the  building prior to tonight.
  • This is South Carolina's fourth road game in its last five outings.
https://gamecocksonline.com/news/2021/2/7/womens-basketball-no-2-1-gamecocks-head-north-for-battle-with-no-3-5-uconn.aspx
 
Shaky start to the game by both teams – Gamecocks is 7-18 and Destanni Henderson with 4 turnovers already for the game, which is not typical for her. BUT Connecticut is doing worse – they are 5-22 for the game in the first quarter, as the Gamecocks head into the 2nd Period leading 14-10. Would be nice if the Gamecocks fix some things, while the Huskies continue to struggle offensively…..[SIZE=10.0pt]
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Zia Cooke with the half-court heave at the end of the 2nd Quarter – IT’S GOOD!! But an ugly quarter for both teams with 6 turnovers for the Gamecocks, and 8 turnovers for the Huskies. But CT shot better, and took the 24-21 lead with seconds left to the half – until Zia’s make to leave it tied 24-24 at the half.



Gamecocks need to do some serious halftime adjustments – mostly, just calm down and get settled. Henderson had perhaps her worst half of basketball this season, with 4 TOs and 1-4 at the FT line (she had been shooting over 90% in her last 10 games). Need to come out better than this for the 2nd half….[SIZE=10.0pt]
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I hope we calm down. Both teams look tired but I think it's nerves. Fingers crossed that Zia has a good second half. Seeing her shot go in from half court hopefully gives her some confidence and calms her down.

 
South Carolina is in a struggle now – they started out strong, jumping out to 8-4, 12-6, and 14-8 leads. But they then bogged down with turnovers and missed layups, the same thing in the latter that has plagued the Gamecocks all season long. CT has out-scored them 16-10 since, and are probably feeling good about themselves starting the 2nd half. We’re in a battle now. One good thing is, Olivia Nelson-Ododa has 3 first-half fouls, and that should hamper her being able to defend Aliyah to start the 2nd half…..[SIZE=10.0pt]
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Gamecocks run off a 13-2 run to take the 54-50 lead and had the ball, but missed back-to-back layups and CT makes two, and it’s tied 54-54. Then Gamecocks had the ball at the basket, but three consecutive missed layups and the regulation ends tied.





We’re going into overtime….

 
Last night we were out played, out coached, and out hustled.   How many turnovers did we have on lazy passes?  3-4?  UCONN was 100 times fundamentally better at the game of basketball than we were.  We generally bludgeon other teams because we're so superior athletically.  We are better talent wise than UCONN (that freshman is better than anyone on our team) but their coaching is way superior.  Why do our girls insist on driving into the lane and trying to force up a shot with 3 defenders hanging on them and then either getting the shot stuffed, stolen, or committing a charge?   It's maddening the number of stupid things we do in a basketball game.

 
We were up by 4 with 2:00 left to go in the 4th quarter, and go into OT -- after missing the final shot and 3 rebounds and put back attempts.  And then up by 3 at the 2:00 mark in OT and lose.  A very frustrating game to watch.  UConn simply outexecuted us.  Their fundamentals are better.  And they had the best player on the court, in their freshman Buekers.

The frustrating thing is we have the better team, and had the opportunities to win, but couldn't stop shooting ourselves in both feet.  I hope we get a rematch in the Tourney, assuming our team is able to limit their turnovers by then.

 
Way too  many turnovers.  I will say UCONN's defense forces many of those, but plenty were on us.  Should have won in regulation.  Can't miss 3 "layup" shots at the end.  #5 on UCONN is awesome.  Well, let's forget this loss and move on Lady Gamecocks.

 
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