South Carolina women's basketball improved to 25-0 against the Crimson Tide in the Dawn Staley era after last night's 76-57 win at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
South Carolina dominated down low during its victory Thursday night, outscoring Alabama 44-20 in the paint. Additionally, South Carolina's defensive intensity contributed to 13 steals and 23 points off of turnovers, giving it the upper hand on the Crimson Tide throughout the game.
The Crimson Tide were held to just 15 points in the bookend periods of the game, scoring just 8 and 7 points in the first and fourth quarters, respectively.
Alabama head coach Kristy Curry seemed to understand the threat of South Carolina's paint scoring, starting out the game in zone defense to try and disrupt South Carolina's ability to get to the rim.
The Gamecocks moved the ball well to shift Alabama's defense around, utilizing high arcing entry passes to set up players such as senior center Madina Okot and sophomore forward Joyce Edwards to get paint touches. Edwards and Okot both recorded double-doubles against Alabama.
In addition, sophomore guard Maddy McDaniel attacked the hoop when driving lanes appeared allowing McDaniel to draw fouls. She led all players in free throw attempts in the first quarter, shooting 4-4 from the line.
In contrast, the Alabama offense could not get going against the Gamecocks. The Crimson Tide had no success in the paint, with Okot blocking four shots on the night. The Gamecocks had two steals in the first quarter as part of Alabama's five turnovers.
There also wasn't any outside shooting coming from the Tide, as the team shot 1-14 from the 3-point line in the first and final quarter, with the lone triple being from redshirt senior guard Jessica Timmons midway through the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Alabama left its zone defense which gave the South Carolina offense a different look, and after a few stops on defense, it made 3-pointers on offense to start closing in on the Gamecocks.
The Tide found a rhythm, consistently collapsing the defense as it approached the basket, then passing back outside to shooters, who got more open looks as a result. This re-emphasis on a fundamental basketball concept, the "drive and kick", helped Alabama shoot 5-8 from distance.
Senior guard Ta'Mia Scott led Alabama in scoring in the second quarter with 8 points, and Timmons followed with 5 points, shooting 1-2 from the 3-point line.
South Carolina kept up with some timely 3-pointers from Okot and McDaniel and 6 points from freshman forward Alicia Tournebize to go into the half up 10, 42-32.
In the second half, Alabama kept shooting well, going 4-8 from distance in the third quarter, with freshman guard Ace Austin leading the way. She was 2-2 from the 3-point line with 6 points.
South Carolina maintained its focus on paint scoring, with 12 paint points in the third quarter compared to Alabama's 6. This allowed the Gamecocks to keep its lead going into the fourth quarter, up 57-50.
Spearheading the offense for the Gamecocks was Edwards, who scored 9 of South Carolina's 15 points in the third quarter. Her composed and efficient scoring on the day demonstrated why she is South Carolina's leading scorer and on the Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Award Midseason Top 10.
In the fourth quarter, South Carolina's defense constricted Alabama, turning up the intensity on the perimeter and forcing five turnovers. The Gamecocks turned those turnovers into offense, with 9 of its 19 fourth-quarter points coming off turnovers.
This increased perimeter intensity also made shooting from distance harder on Alabama, which had shot well in the second and third quarters. In total, the Tide attempted 30 3-pointers on the evening but went 0-8 from the 3-point line in the fourth, scoring 7 points in total.
South Carolina's defensive performance in the last quarter was punctuated by a game sealing 11-0 run that featured a steal and fast-break basket for senior guard Raven Johnson, a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
While South Carolina's defense snuffed out Alabama, the offense continued to motor, and Edwards again led the team in fourth-quarter scoring with 8 points as South Carolina closed out a 76-57 victory.
South Carolina will want to bring that high standard of defense and steady-handed offense back to Colonial Life Arena for its next SEC matchup Sunday against No. 17 Ole Miss.