South Carolina Basketball: 3 thumbs up, 3 thumbs down from Vanderbilt win
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Basketball vs. Vanderbilt Commodores
Thumbs Up 1: Queen Kamilla
After an up-and-down game against LSU on Thursday, Kamilla Cardoso bounced back in a big way against the Vanderbilt Commodores. Setting a USC career-high with 23 points scored (she once scored 25 at Syracuse), Cardoso made 9-10 shots outside of a strange 0-4 stretch late in the 1st half. The game was out of hand, so she did not play in the 4th quarter, or else she surely would have set a new career-best number.
The Brazilian big is jockeying for a spot on the All-SEC squad in a conference that is loaded with 4s and 5s. The performance should help earn her some offensive confidence as she and the Gamecocks move on to the rest of the SEC schedule.
South Carolina Basketball vs. Vanderbilt Commodores
Thumbs Up 2: Raven Johnson
Raven "Crock Pot" Johnson (if you know, you know) was sensational for the Gamecocks on Sunday. The sophomore point guard led her team's offense very well, racking up 7 assists and 0 turnovers. She would have had a handful more dimes, as well, but backcourt running mate Te-Hina Paopao struggled to find her shot, and MiLaysia Fulwiely missed a couple of looks after Johnson passes.
To back up her distribution efforts, Johnson chipped in an efficient 10 points that included 2-3 shooting from outside the 3-point arc. The 3 rebounds and 1 steal were nice additions to her stat line, as well.
South Carolina Basketball vs. Vanderbilt Commodores
Thumbs Up 3: Ball Security
It's no secret that turnovers have been an issue for South Carolina basketball this season. Risky passes, especially, have been a bugaboo for the garnet and black. However, the Gamecocks had their cleanest game of the year on Sunday in terms of ball security.
South Carolina finished the game with just 6 turnovers (3 coming in the 1st quarter, 2 in the first 80 seconds of the game). USC's two lead guards (Raven Johnson and Te-Hina Paopao) did not have a single giveaway in their 57 combined minutes on the court. That's good for any team in any situation, and Gamecock fans are hoping that it becomes a trend.