In case anyone forgot, South Carolina basketball owns the Palmetto State. Dawn Staley and company proved that two-fold in recent days with the Wednesday commitment of 5-star forward Joyce Edwards (despite rumors about the Clemson Tigers lurking) and an utterly non-competitive rivalry game showing on Thursday.
As the Gamecocks won their 13th-straight game over the Tigers (all by double-digits), they somehow managed to put a more dominant product on the floor in the team’s third game of the year than they did in last week’s 30-point victories over Notre Dame and Maryland.
Dawn Staley’s 200th home win as the coach of the Gamecocks was as lopsided as they come. Rocking brand new “Cocky” uniforms, South Carolina basketball embarrassed the Clemson Tigers from start to finish and won the game by 69 points, scoring at least 100 points (109) for the third-straight game, the first time that has ever happened in program history.
Statistically, the game went about as perfectly as it could have gone. Kamilla Cardoso imposed her will inside, securing another double-double with a 15-point, 13-rebound, 3-block performance in just 22 minutes. Ashlyn Watkins also had a double-double and had 4 blocks (she’s had at least 4 blocks in all three games this year).
MiLaysia Fulwiley stuffed the stat sheet and the highlight reel, and Raven Johnson almost broke a program record with 17 assists. Te-Hina Paopao hit four more 3-pointers, and even with a short bench (Tessa Johnson was unavailable with an ankle injury), no Gamecock other than Raven Johnson had to play more than 24 minutes.