South Carolina Basketball: Shorthanded Gamecocks’ defense smothers Jackrabbits

South Carolina Basketball vs. South Dakota State:
Statistics, Scoring, and Observations

A shorthanded South Carolina basketball squad started slowly against a tough South Dakota State Jackrabbits team, but in the end, the talent of the Gamecocks was too much. Carolina pulled away and won 78-38.

South Dakota State

Points

Leader: Brooklyn Meyer with 19

Rebounds

Leader: Brooklyn Meyer with 10

Assists

Leader: Tori Nelson with 3

Steals

Leader: Brooklyn Meyer with 2

Blocks

Leader: Tori Nelson with 2

Other

The Jackrabbits had 18 turnovers; South Dakota State had 0 fast break points, South Carolina had 31.

South Carolina

Points

Leader: Kamilla Cardoso with 23

Rebounds

Leader: Kamilla Cardoso with 10

Assists

Leader: Raven Johnson with 6

Steals

Leader: Raven Johnson with 5

Blocks

Leader: Kamilla Cardoso with 6

Other

Kamilla Cardoso (8-12) and Raven Johnson (9-13) were very efficient, but the rest of the Gamecocks shot 17-54; South Dakota State had 0 fast break points, South Carolina had 31; Ashlyn Watkins filled up the stat sheet with 6 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, and 3 blocks in 15 minutes; Raven Johnson set career-highs in scoring (18) and steals (5)’ the Gamecocks had 16 blocks and 15 steals

BOX SCORE

OBSERVATIONS

• Starters: Raven Johnson-MiLaysia Fulwiley-Bree Hall-Chloe Kitts-Kamilla Cardoso
• Te-Hina Paopao and Tessa Johnson were both out with ankle injuries; Johnson missed the Clemson game, as well.
• Shot selection, ball movement, outside shooting, and perimeter defense were all off without Paopao.
• SDSU made a concentrated effort to pull Cardoso away from the basket, and they got a couple of buckets with the Gamecocks’ post defender away from the bucket.
• Even through the team’s shooting struggles, Cardoso, Hall, Johnson, and Kitts played very aggressively. Eventually, some shots started falling, and SDSU slowed down their shooting pace.
• Carolina forced 10 turnovers in the 1st half while only giving the ball up twice. That discrepancy is what allowed USC to stay in the game early and to take a nice lead in the 2nd quarter.
• Ashlyn Watkins didn’t play much in the 1st half due to foul trouble.
• After a slow 1st quarter on the boards, Chloe Kitts rebounded very well. She finished the game with 9.
• Sakima Walker didn’t play until the Gamecocks were leading by almost 30 points, indicating that she still is not part of the rotation.
• After the 1st quarter, the Carolina defense locked in and locked up the Jackrabbits.
• Other than Kamilla Cardoso and Ashlyn Watkins, the Gamecocks struggled to guard Brooklyn Meyer in the paint. Chloe Kitts, Bree Hall, Sania Feagin, Sakima Walker, and Sahnya Jah all couldn’t stop the Jackrabbits’ best player.
• Raven Johnson set career-highs with 18 points and 5 steals.
• The Gamecocks had six players with at least 5 rebounds.