WBB GAMEDAY THREAD: Gamecocks @ Missouri

[FeatheredCock]

#1/2 South Carolina (16-1) Conf (4-0) AT Missouri (4-13) Conf (1-3)
8:30 P.M. (ET) | COLUMBIA, MO

Watch - Sec Network; Listen 107.5 The Game

The team maybe on sky high right now but, like Coach said the team have lost the past two times they have played there. And that's when we had elite senior talent from the 2017 team.

 

[ConwayGamecock]

Missouri's prime strengths this season are 3-pt shooting and free throw shooting. They get a large % of their offense from the perimeter. They have 3 real good players in Amber Smith (13.0 ppg), Hayley Frank (12.5 ppg), and Aijha Blackwell (12.3 ppg) who can score, but after them the offense gets pretty thin.

As a result of their heavy perimeter shooting and a poor presence in the post, their team rebounding is poor - they are 12th in the SEC in rebounding and 14th in offensive rebounding per game - which make for a ton of one-shot possessions. And while they are 3rd in the SEC in 3-pt shots made and 4th in 3-pt FG %, they are 10th overall in the SEC scoring. They just do not get enough from the paint, and often rely on attempting to shoot themselves from behind on the scoreboard.

Defensively, Missouri is not the same team they were in the Sophie Cunningham years. They are 13th in the conference in scoring defense, 13th in overall FG % defense, and 12th in 3-pt. FG % defense. They are dead last in steals per game - averaging half per game than South Carolina averages - and commit more fouls per game than any other SEC team, while forcing the fewest turnovers from their opponents per game.

Missouri has played a very difficult schedule however, which explains - when adding to that the above statistics - why they are 4-13. More than half of their losses have been by fewer than 10 pts, so they will fight. And its a road SEC game, so the Gamecocks better be prepared to come out with guns blazing, like they have the previous 4 SEC games, or Missouri will stay close and get confidence.....

 

[ConwayGamecock]

Cold shooting period thus far by the Gamecocks - starting 2-13. Aliyah Boston started 0-4 which is highly unusual for her as efficient a completer at the basket as she's been. The Gamecocks still lead however 7-4 halfway through the first Quarter...

 

[ConwayGamecock]

Well looks like South Carolina is having a bout with one-and-done shot opportunities - they are almost shooting twice as many shots as Missouri is, but are 4-20 (20%) for the first Quarter. They still lead after one period 12-7, but unless they have some 30+ pt quarters in their immediate future, the number of 90-point consecutive SEC games will stop at 4.....

 

[ConwayGamecock]

Great sequence of plays from freshman Laeticia Amihere - she blocks a lay-up attempt by a Mizzou player, gets the rebound off of her block, then on the other end takes the pass from Zia Cooke and hits a 3-pt shot. But the good play is few and far between as the Gamecocks lead 15-10.....

 

[ConwayGamecock]

Boston picks up her 2nd foul midway through the 2nd Qtr. She only has 2 points, but the team is shooting much better in the 2nd Qtr. - they've taken fewer shot attempts but are making more of them, and lead 21-14 with 4:14 left to play in the half....

 

[ConwayGamecock]

Gamecocks find their shooting touch in the 2nd Quarter, and go on a 18-3 run and out-score Missouri 23-10 to take a 35-17 lead into the halftime break. The Gamecocks shoot 9-15 (60%) for the 2nd Period, and are dominating on the boards 32-12 thus far for the game. But they had way too many turnovers for the half, and must improve on that for the 2nd half.....

 

[ConwayGamecock]

Gamecocks take control of the game and out-score Missouri 24-14 in the 3rd Period, and now lead 59-31 through 3 quarters.......

 

[ConwayGamecock]

The #1-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks improve to 17-1 overall and 5-0 in SEC play by defeating Missouri 78-45. Five Gamecocks lead the team in scoring double digits, and three pull down 10+ rebounds, but fail to extend their program-best streak of opening SEC games scoring 90 or more points per game, to 5 games.

Zia Cooke led the Gamecocks with 14 points and 3 rebounds, Kiki Herbert-Harrigan ties Cooke with 14 pts and two blocks, Ty Harris added 11 pts, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds, and Aliyah Boston and Victaria Saxton both contribute 10 pts and 10 rebounds. Brea Beal only scores 3 points, but leads the team with 13 rebounds, plus added 2 blocks and 2 steals for the strong all-around game.

Laeticia Amihere added 6 pts and 7 rebounds off the bench before fouling out, and fellow reserve Lele Grissett added 5 pts and 8 boards. So adding reserve Saxton, those three off the bench made a huge contribution with a combined 21 pts and 25 rebounds. Overall, South Carolina out-rebounded Missouri 62-31.

Now the Gamecocks have to reset as they return home to Colonial Life Arena, and prepare for a game with both national as well as conference implications, as they host 16-2 and top 10 Mississippi State Monday night. The Mississippi State Bulldogs have been the top conference rival to South Carolina for the last 2-3 seasons, and are 4-0 in SEC play. They've beaten UGA 73-66, Missouri 79-64, and beat LSU tonight 64-60 in a nail-biter: all 3 games have been tightly contested. But they will be ready to play us Monday night, to be certain.....