Following every collegiate basketball game, each team’s coach will assess their club’s performance, note what was done well and what components still need to be improved upon before taking the court again. Even the most successful programs fall short of perfection and, at the very least, fine-tune and sharpen their focus as they move toward the NCAA Tournament and their ultimate goal. But even a perfectionist such as Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley will have to look long and hard to find the flaws in South Carolina’s 99-64 victory at Texas A&M, Sunday.
USC opened the game on a 15-0 run and allowed the Aggies just two field goals through the first ten minutes of play. By halftime, the Gamecocks had built a 54-23 lead on the strength of 71% shooting from the field. Texas A&M, on the other hand, shot just 20% in the first half and found itself hopelessly behind the nation’s top-ranked team.
Freshman Milaysia Fulwiley hit five of her first six shots and set a career high with 21 points. Kamilla Cardoso posted her tenth double-double of the season, finishing with 17 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Chloe Kitts added 13 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
The Gamecocks continue to blister opponents from the perimeter, making 54% of their 3-point shots, Sunday. USC’s depth was also on display as South Carolina’s bench outscored the A&M reserves 45-10.
The Gamecocks (18-0, 6-0) will get a stiffer test later this week when they pay a visit to Baton Rouge, La., to face the defending champions. Tipoff between no. 1 USC and no. 10 LSU is set for Thursday at 8 p.m.
Final Stats
