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ChrisWellbaum
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Here's the AP story on the Gamecocks' 88-60 win over Buffalo: LINK
The Gamecocks wanted to get their post players, especially Aliyah Boston, more involved in the offense, and boy did they. Boston had 23 points, seven rebounds, and two assists in just 26 minutes. Boston’s season-high was 11 points. She matched that in just over 11 minutes Saturday. She scored South Carolina’s first six points and then assisted on a three by Destanni Henderson.
Boston wasn’t alone. Kamilla Cardoso was averaging 5.7 points and 5.0 rebounds. She had 12 and 10, the first double-double of the season. She had a career high six assists, surpassing her previous career-high of three in the first half. Victoria Saxton had 8 points all season and had 9 Saturday. She had nine rebounds all season and seven Saturday.
South Carolina’s high-low game was extremely effective. We’d seen flashes of it, but it never got going like it did Saturday. It seemed like South Carolina moved the players in a little bit: instead of the high post being 17 feet away it was 14, and instead of the low post being three feet from the basket it was at the rim. I joked during the game that the play was “Throw the ball near the rim and let Kamilla be 6-7.” Obviously there is more to it than that, but not a lot because there aren’t many players who can match Boston and Cardoso’s size. It won’t be as easy against Oregon - the Ducks have a 6-7 center of their own, Sedona Prince.
Saniya Rivers finally made her debut and didn’t take long to make an impact. She entered with 3:05 remaining in the first quarter and blocked a shot and made a three by the end of the frame. She had a couple of turnovers, but also scored seven points, blocked two shots, and had an assist. Her last basket came off a crossover and fake pass, a spectacular play.
Dyaisha Fair got her points, but she had to work. She had 13 points on 6-11 shooting in the first half. In the second half it dipped to 9 points on 3-8 shooting.
Henderson (29), Boston (26) and Saxton (21) were the only Gamecocks who played over 20 minutes. Ten played at least ten minutes. That’s a big deal with a quick turnaround for Sunday’s game. Tipoff against Oregon is at 2:30 pm. Oregon tipped at 5 Saturday, so got an extra couple hours of rest, but the Ducks dressed just nine players and only seven got significant playing time. The starters all played at least 28 minutes as they had to come from behind to win a close game over Oklahoma. Advantage South Carolina.
South Carolina had 26 assists on 34 made baskets, the second most assists in the Dawn Staley era and the most since 2016. Aside from Cardoso’s six, Henderson had eight and Zia Cooke had five. But… 22 turnovers! Laeticia Amihere got time running the point again, but had mixed results with five turnovers. “I’m cringing. Cringing. 22 turnovers. Cringing.” Dawn Staley said.
After almost twenty month, we finally get South Carolina-Oregon.
#1 South Carolina (4-0) vs #9 Oregon (4-0)
Tip: 2:30 pm
Watch: FloHoops
The Gamecocks wanted to get their post players, especially Aliyah Boston, more involved in the offense, and boy did they. Boston had 23 points, seven rebounds, and two assists in just 26 minutes. Boston’s season-high was 11 points. She matched that in just over 11 minutes Saturday. She scored South Carolina’s first six points and then assisted on a three by Destanni Henderson.
Boston wasn’t alone. Kamilla Cardoso was averaging 5.7 points and 5.0 rebounds. She had 12 and 10, the first double-double of the season. She had a career high six assists, surpassing her previous career-high of three in the first half. Victoria Saxton had 8 points all season and had 9 Saturday. She had nine rebounds all season and seven Saturday.
South Carolina’s high-low game was extremely effective. We’d seen flashes of it, but it never got going like it did Saturday. It seemed like South Carolina moved the players in a little bit: instead of the high post being 17 feet away it was 14, and instead of the low post being three feet from the basket it was at the rim. I joked during the game that the play was “Throw the ball near the rim and let Kamilla be 6-7.” Obviously there is more to it than that, but not a lot because there aren’t many players who can match Boston and Cardoso’s size. It won’t be as easy against Oregon - the Ducks have a 6-7 center of their own, Sedona Prince.
Saniya Rivers finally made her debut and didn’t take long to make an impact. She entered with 3:05 remaining in the first quarter and blocked a shot and made a three by the end of the frame. She had a couple of turnovers, but also scored seven points, blocked two shots, and had an assist. Her last basket came off a crossover and fake pass, a spectacular play.
Dyaisha Fair got her points, but she had to work. She had 13 points on 6-11 shooting in the first half. In the second half it dipped to 9 points on 3-8 shooting.
Henderson (29), Boston (26) and Saxton (21) were the only Gamecocks who played over 20 minutes. Ten played at least ten minutes. That’s a big deal with a quick turnaround for Sunday’s game. Tipoff against Oregon is at 2:30 pm. Oregon tipped at 5 Saturday, so got an extra couple hours of rest, but the Ducks dressed just nine players and only seven got significant playing time. The starters all played at least 28 minutes as they had to come from behind to win a close game over Oklahoma. Advantage South Carolina.
South Carolina had 26 assists on 34 made baskets, the second most assists in the Dawn Staley era and the most since 2016. Aside from Cardoso’s six, Henderson had eight and Zia Cooke had five. But… 22 turnovers! Laeticia Amihere got time running the point again, but had mixed results with five turnovers. “I’m cringing. Cringing. 22 turnovers. Cringing.” Dawn Staley said.
After almost twenty month, we finally get South Carolina-Oregon.
#1 South Carolina (4-0) vs #9 Oregon (4-0)
Tip: 2:30 pm
Watch: FloHoops
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