The South Carolina women’s basketball team defeated their rival, Clemson, for the sixth consecutive year Wednesday night.
All-American guard Tiffany Mitchell led the Gamecocks to the 67-41 victory, scoring a game-high 18 points on 50 percent shooting. The guard also grabbed five rebounds en route to South Carolina’s third straight victory and first on the road this season.
Mitchell’s efficiency wasn’t universal against the Tigers, though, as the Gamecocks shot a season-worst 36.5 percent and converted just seven of their 25 three-point attempts.
It was on the defensive end where South Carolina made its mark. Clemson dug itself in a deep hole, scoring nine points in the opening quarter leading to an early 11-point deficit. This deficit was too much to overcome, as the Gamecocks never trailed in the final three quarters.
South Carolina won the turnover battle by a landslide, stealing the ball 12 times compared to Clemson’s zero. Center Alaina Coates played a pivotal role in the dominant defensive effort, clogging up the paint — blocking two shots and pulling down six key rebounds.
The Gamecocks still trail in the Palmetto Series, 33-28, but have won every matchup during the Dawn Staley era.
Wednesday’s game marked the beginning of a five-game road trip, including a three-game trip to Waikiki, Hawaii as part of the Waikiki Beach Marriott Rainbow Wahine Showdown. South Carolina plays at UCLA Sunday night, then will have five days to rest before heading to Hawaii.