 "Photo: Brett Flashnick Associated Press")
The Lady Gamecocks basketball team (8-7), coming off their second straight loss and their third loss in five games, hope to stay above the .500 mark when they host the Florida Gators (15-2) tonight in the Colonial Life Arena. Carolina is coming off slim losses to Georgia and undefeated Auburn, the latter of whom recently ended Florida's 15-game winning streak with an 81-65 victory.
"I think our loss to Auburn is where we made some mistakes down the stretch as well as against Georgia," senior forward Demetress Adams said. "So I think we're just going to stick with our game plan and just go out and work hard."
Both of Florida's losses have come on the road, so the Gamecocks will not have to face the Gators on their undefeated home turf. Although the Lady Gamecocks fared better against the Auburn Tigers than the Gators did, they must still contend with a high-powered Gator offense led by Sha Brooks and Marshae Dotson, who have both scored more than 200 points this season. Four other players have scored more than 100 points. They also have a capable defense that has helped their opponents turn the ball over many times.
Adams leads the team in rebounds (offensive and defensive), blocks, steals, and she is second in both total points scored and points-per-game (173, 11.5 PPG) this season behind Brionna Dickerson (183, 12.2). Lakeisha Sutton also has 144 total points and is second on the team with 21 steals. Although the numbers may not be in USC's favor, Adams believes that a strong and disciplined defense will make a strong case against Florida's surging offense and allow the Lady Gamecocks to test Florida's defense and put the score in their favor for a change.
"I think playing solid defense, disciplined defense, staying out of foul trouble and playing smart will make it a good ball game," Adams said. "I think at times we don't play disciplined, myself included. If we do play disciplined, it will be a different ball game."
The Gamecocks have also found themselves struggling to keep a consistent group on the floor. Out of the 12 players on the roster only two players, Adams and senior guard Dickerson, have started all 15 games and only five players have seen action in all 15 games.
In contrast, both Auburn and Florida, the two teams with the best overall records in the SEC, have had at least three players start all of the team's games thus far. Auburn and Florida have each had at least six players appear in every game.
While one less person playing in every game may not seem like a big difference, a single player can make a lot of difference in depth and freshness on the basketball court.
USC tips off against UF tonight at 7p.m. in the Colonial Life Arena.
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