Senior Spotlight on Elem Ibiam

For the past two seasons one woman has dominated the middle of the paint for South Carolina and now in her final regular season home game as a Gamecock, this is the senior spotlight on Elem Ibiam.  #33 Ibiam, at 6-4, is a towering force to be reckoned with as opponents have found out game after game.  Thursday night 7pm at Colonial Life Arena is senior night, as a chance to thank the women who have helped the Gamecocks gain so much success the past few seasons and contribute to this year’s 26-1 team ranked #2 in the nation.

Ibiam is a senior who has played in 25 or more games in every season as a Gamecock and started every game the past two seasons after coming here from Fayette County High School just outside of Atlanta.  Last season, Elem was named to the 2014 SEC All-Defensive Team as well as the 2014 SEC Community Service Team.  This season in December she was named the AgSouth Athlete of the Week for her 21 points in 18 minutes against Savannah State.

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Ibiam is 2nd in career blocked shots at South Carolina with 156 so far.  She definitely challenges anyone coming near the basket, and even had a career high seven blocks in one game.  Last season she averaged 2.4 blocks per game and set a school single season record for blocks.  She also scored 9.5 points per game and also had over 6 rebounds per game.  Although she’s having to adjust her role and minutes this year (averaging 6 minutes less) with the addition of other players to the team, she is still averaging more than 7 points and 4 rebounds per game.  I don’t think she’ll mind that too much either as Elem is projected to be drafted in the first round of the upcoming WNBA draft.

Her production and leadership in the middle will be sorely missed next year.  But for now, we look forward to helping the Gamecocks finish the season strong and hopefully have an outstanding tournament.  With so many young players on the team, her experience could definitely be a big benefit in the games to come.