No.1 #Gamecocks look super on Sunday with 83-65 win over UConn (AUDIO)

Colonial Life Arena: The top-ranked USC women’s basketball team had little trouble on Super Sunday taking down a depleted 11th ranked Connecticut team 83-65 at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia. While the Gamecocks played their second game without star center Kamilla Cardoso who is with her Brazilian National Team, the Huskies were down five players due to injuries, and their short roster was simply worn down by the Gamecocks.

Te-Hina Paopao got USC off to a quick start with eight first quarter points, including a pair of three-pointers, as the Gamecocks led 19-11 after the first ten minutes. Paopao hit two more threes and had eight points in the second quarter as well as USC led 44-30 at the break.

Raven Johnson led the way in the third quarter with eight points as USC outscored the Huskies 25-14 to put the game away with a 69-44 lead after three. The lead grew to 27 points in the fourth quarter and the Huskies could get no closer than 18 points.

The Gamecocks had eight players garner at least 14 minutes of floor time while Connecticut played just six who had double figure minutes. The USC bench outscored the UConn bench 19-3. The Gamecocks also won the boards 46-37 and outscored the Huskies in the paint 34-22. 

Paopao led USC with 21 points and was 5-7 on three-pointers. Ashlyn Watkins added 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Johnson recorded a career first double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Paige Bueckers and Aaliyah Edwards led the Huskies with 20 points each. Edwards also snared 12 rebounds.

USC is now 5-9 all-time against UConn and has won five of the last six in the series. 

The Gamecocks are 23-0 on the season. Their winning streaks were extended to 23 games overall, 54 at home, 13 against non-conference opponents, 26 against non-conference opponents at home, six over ranked teams and 12 over ranked teams at home.

USC will play at Tennessee Thursday night. 

Final Stats

Dawn Staley postgame press conference

Te-Hina Paopao & Raven Johnson postgame press conference

Geno Auriemma postgame press conference