The Daily Gamecock

Gamecocks host Aggies in top 10 showdown

<p>South Carolina junior Tiffany Mitchell led South Carolina with 15 points in the Gamecocks' 73-56 win over Arkansas Thursday night.  Mitchell has now scored in double-digits in 13 straight games and No. 2 South Carolina puts its 30-game home winning streak to test against No. 6 Tennessee on Monday. </p>
South Carolina junior Tiffany Mitchell led South Carolina with 15 points in the Gamecocks' 73-56 win over Arkansas Thursday night.  Mitchell has now scored in double-digits in 13 straight games and No. 2 South Carolina puts its 30-game home winning streak to test against No. 6 Tennessee on Monday. 

Some might say they're on top of the world.

Three months into the season, South Carolina women's basketball is still undefeated, and the Gamecocks are still No. 1 in the nation. 

South Carolina’s latest test came in Gainesville as the Gamecocks breezed through the Gators, winning 77-42.

Junior guard Tiffany Mitchell put up another stellar performance with 18 points and was the leading scorer for the Gamecocks.

“I was impressed with the amount of dedication and energy from the people who started to the bench,” head coach Dawn Staley said. “It was impressive.” 

South Carolina’s next challenge comes Monday night against Texas A&M (16-4, 4-2 SEC). The Gamecocks (18-0, 6-0 SEC) have had a week to recover from their travels to Florida and will be ready to play at Colonial Life Arena Monday at 7 p.m.

With Texas A&M ranked No. 10, the matchup should come as a challenge for South Carolina. Since Texas A&M joined the SEC beginning in the 2012-2013 season, South Carolina is 0-3 against the Aggies. 

In some respects, South Carolina and Texas A&M are comparable. The Aggies average about 68 points per game, just 10 points less than the Gamecocks.

Last year when these two teams met at Reed Arena in College Station, Texas, the Aggies utilized its home court advantage and won in overtime 67-65. Considering the fact that the two teams haven’t faced each other since last season’s meeting, both squads are probably anxious to face off again.

Even after their win against Florida Staley said her players are, “constantly learning.”

South Carolina has won comfortably in conference play this year, with the only close game coming in a 68-60 victory over Kentucky.

Staley — who recently got her own TV gig, "The Dawn Staley Show" —  knows what she wants from her team members, and she's clear about what she doesn't.

“For me it’s probably low motives, low motive players because you can accomplish a lot of things playing fast and with a lot of energy.” Staley said.

The Aggies enter Monday’s game having leaned on junior guards Courtney Walker and Courtney Williams.  Walker leads the Aggies with 14.6 points per game, while Williams averages 14.1 points. 

Ultimately, either South Carolina will earn its first win against Texas A&M since it joined the SEC, or the Aggies will hand the Gamecocks their first loss of the season.  


Comments