***2020-21 #4/3 South Carolina (13-1) vs Alabama (12-3) Game Thread***

[ConwayGamecock]

#4/3 SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS (13-1, 8-0) VS ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (12-3, 5-3)​

#4/3 SOUTH CAROLINA (13-1, 8-0) VS. ALABAMA (12-3, 5-3)
3 P.M.   |  COLUMBIA, S.C.  |  COLONIAL LIFE ARENA (3,500)
 

GAME DAY INFO | South Carolina Game Notes (PDF) | WATCH: SEC Network | LISTEN: 107.5 The Game | Live Stats | Media Availability

ABOUT THIS GAME

• South Carolina has won its last 17 games against Alabama, which is every game of the Dawn Staley era.
• South Carolina is looking for its 25th straight SEC regular-season victory tonight, which would be its longest SEC win streak in program history. Including three wins in the 2020 SEC Tournament, the Gamecocks have defeated an SEC opponent 27 straight games.

 

[ConwayGamecock]

The Gamecocks will be playing Alabama for the 2nd time this season: they defeated the Crimson Tide 77-60 in Tuscaloosa on January 4th. Now they will face the Tide in Colonial Life Arena.

The Crimson Tide is another SEC opponent that rides the fortunes of a big-scoring trio of players, much like Arkansas. They are led by one of the top offensive threats of the league in Sr. 6-3 forward Jasmine Walker, who averages 20.1 ppg, and 10.2 rpg. Walker is supported by Sr. guard Jordan Lewis with 16.9 ppg, 4.6 apg, and 4.1 rpg, and Sr. 6-3 forward Ariyah Copeland with 14.3 ppg, and 8.1 rpg. Those 3 players account for about 2/3rds of the team's total scoring every game.

In the last game, Lewis led the Tide with 28 pts on 9-21 shooting and 9-11 from the free throw line. Aliyah Boston may have struggled a bit against both 6-3 players of Walker and Copeland, as she only scored 5 pts on 2-10 shooting - she did have 10 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals. The Gamecocks were led by Destanni Henderson's 20 pts, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Also Zia Cooke scored 18 pts, Victaria Saxton added 15 pts and 6 boards, and Brea Beal added 8 pts and 10 rebounds.

Overall, the Gamecocks pulled 55 rebounds while holding Alabama to 31 boards, which was about 10 rebounds below their per-game average. South Carolina shot only 12-24 (.500) from the free throw line, which was well below even their not-great average: Saxton and Lele Grissett combined to shoot 5-14 - both girls along with Beal have been much improved from the line in recent games, so hopefully we'll see better results there from them.

 

[ConwayGamecock]

Gamecocks lead 26-21 after a high-shooting 1st Quarter. Alabama shot 20 shots in the first period - they are on pace for a 80-shot game - but only hit on 40% of them. South Carolina only took 15 attempts but hit 67% of those.....

 

[ConwayGamecock]

Well, I jinxed the team.....

Alabama takes over the 2nd quarter and out-scores South Carolina 20-14 to take the lead 41-40 at the halftime intermission. The Gamecocks suddenly lost the target as they shot 5-16 from the field, while the Tide shot 8-12. Aliyah Boston struggling again with her shot as she did in the first game with the Tide, shooting 1-7 and has 4 pts and 7 rebounds. Destanni Henderson leads the Gamecocks with 11 pts, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.

For Alabama, Jordan Lewis and Destiny Rice lead the way with 9 pts each.....

 

[ConwayGamecock]

Zia Cooke storms back from her foul-shortened 1st half to score 12 pts in the 3rd Period, and leads the Gamecocks with 16 pts. The Gamecocks out-score Alabama 24-13 and lead 64-54...

 

[ConwayGamecock]

Gamecocks continue their 2nd half strong play by out-scoring Alabama 23-9 in the final quarter, and win 87-63 to improve to 14-1 and 9-0 in the SEC. The win gives the Gamecocks their 25th consecutive regular-season SEC victory, which sets their new program record over their 24-win streak across the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.

Once again as with the first game, the Gamecock guards lead the way as Zia Cooke led USC with 21 pts, and Destanni Henderson scored 14 pts to go with 7 assists, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals. Brea Beal added 11 pts, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks, and Victaria Saxton added 10 pts and 2 blocks.

Aliyah Boston struggled against against Alabama's zone that had both of their 6-3 players collapsing onto Boston - she was only 2-10 on the game for 6 pts, but with the entire Tide team smothering her, she became a guard, collecting a career-high 6 assists - she also led the team with 13 boards, and 3 blocks.

Alabama (12-4, 5-4) was led by Jordan Lewis with 19 pts, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. Jasmine Walker scored 15 pts, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals, and Megan Abrams added 10 pts and 5 rebounds.