Dawn Staley and her South Carolina basketball team are undefeated and have been ranked number-1 in the country for thirty-three consecutive weeks, good for the fourth-longest streak of all-time in women’s collegiate basketball history. Last week’s matchup on the road at UConn was the Gamecocks’ biggest test of the season, but Sunday’s conference tilt against LSU might be an even stiffer trial. Led by another legendary head coach Kim Mulkey, the Tigers are also undefeated and would likely become the favorites to win the SEC championship and earn a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament if they can knock off the Gamecocks.
The game is scheduled for 2:00 EST on ESPN and the ESPN App. Both teams are 11-0 in the SEC. LSU leads the all-time series between the schools 22-17, but South Carolina has won 13 in a row in the series.
As evidenced by their spot behind one-loss Indiana, LSU has faced criticism this season for their weak out-of-conference schedule. Kim Mulkey’s bunch can remove all doubts about their team if they can knock off the national favorite Gamecocks in Columbia.
In addition to the ramifications for the two teams, the game offers an intriguing individual matchup, as well. Reigning National Player of the Year Aliyah Boston will often match up with LSU’s best player Angel Reese. The transfer from Maryland is one of the frontrunners for this year’s National Player of the Year award and is approaching Boston’s all-time SEC record of 27-straight double-doubles. Reese’s streak began with the Tigers’ first game this season, giving her 23 straight games with double figures in points and rebounds.
LSU will likely attack South Carolina the same way that UConn did last week. The Huskies had success by doubling down low and daring South Carolina’s guards and wings to shoot the ball. If players like Raven Johnson, Zia Cooke, and Brea Beal struggle with their jumpers, LSU will have a chance in this game. Eventually, South Carolina post players like Boston, Kamilla Cardoso, and Laeticia Amihere will wear down the smaller LSU front court (with the possible exception of Reese). The Tigers will need to have established some form of advantage before this point or the Gamecocks will be all but assured of a victory.
Prediction
LSU comes out fast and strong on the road but cannot keep up a high level of play as the raucous “fams” (Dawn Staley’s affectionate nickname for their fans) and the post strength of the Gamecocks will make life too difficult for the Bayou Bengals. Boston will outduel Reese down the stretch, and Kamilla Cardoso will provide a needed secondary scoring presence. Kim Mulkey will get a technical foul trying to inspire her team, but it will be too little, too late as the Gamecocks coast the final few minutes of the highest-ranked matchup of the season.