It wasn’t easy or without adversity, but the South Carolina women's basketball team found a way to pull out a win over Kentucky in a game that was much closer than the 78-68 final score made it seem.
With a four-point lead heading into the second quarter, things seemed to be going well for the Gamecocks. But four and a half minutes into the second quarter the course and feel of the game changed dramatically. With the Gamecocks attempting to weather a 10-2 run that had given Kentucky their first lead of the game, Tiffany Mitchell drove baseline and collided with a Kentucky defender, causing both players to fall hard. Mitchell would remain on the ground for some time before being helped off the court to the locker room.
With Mitchell out for the rest of the game, everyone was forced to step up for the Gamecocks. Coach Dawn Staley said, “They all stepped up in a way that made us proud … We need our bench to perform and impact the game like they did today.”
It wasn’t just the bench that stepped up to fill the hole left by Mitchell’s absence. The two bigs, Alaina Coates and A’ja Wilson, were instrumental in the win. After Coates’ 27-point, 13-rebound performance, Coach Staley called it “one of her best games." Despite four fouls that limited her to only 28 minutes of play, Wilson was also extremely effective, scoring 18 points on only seven shots and also grabbing seven rebounds.
Even with a slow start for their star player Makayla Epps, Kentucky was able to hang around for much of the game. Epps was held scoreless until 4:34 left in the third quarter, and her 17 points in the final 15 minutes of game time wasn’t enough to outmatch South Carolina’s bigs in scoring on the other end, particularly from the foul line.
Kentucky coach Matthew Mitchell said, “I think everything but our free throw defense [was] very good.” The Gamecocks were able to score 24 points from the foul line on 35 attempts, compared to just 10 points on 14 attempts for the Wildcats.
After the game, news on Mitchell’s injury sounded good. Staley said she was cleared to return late in the game but decided to keep her on the bench and provide her with some much needed rest. The focus for this team now becomes Connecticut and the long-awaited matchup Monday of the two undefeated teams. The Gamecocks seek revenge for last year's 25-point loss.
As they now turn their attention to Connecticut, Wilson said, “I think we are all ready for it … I mean it’s a big game, but it’s still a game. I think we are just going to take it all in — seize the moment really. I think we’re all ready, I think both teams are ready, and I think the Colonial Life Arena is ready as well.”