Los Angeles – No. 2 South Carolina handily beat No. 8 USC, 69-52, to win the first of a two-game series dubbed, “Who is the Real SC?” Saturday at Crypto.com Arena.
Joyce Edwards lead the Gamecocks with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Raven Johnson and Tessa Johnson each added 14 points. For USC, Kennedy Smith put up 12 points and Kara Dunn, 10.
For all of the differences between the two teams, both rosters are full of new players, and each school characterized themselves as searching for their identity in the early season.
“We have four new starters and seven who have had to play a different role for us, whether at their previous school, or for us,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. “We’ve had a core group of players over the last five years, and (this year) Raven’s the lone person who has been a part of that. So she’s got to take on a lot of responsibility.”
The Trojans have six new players, and have had to grapple with filling the gap following All-American JuJu Watkins’ ACL tear in the playoffs last March.
Smith, a sophomore, said she has been forced into a leadership role this year, after looking up to veterans last season. Watkins, a junior who is out for the season, has taken on a coach-like role on the bench. Despite the changes, Coach Lindsay Gottlieb said the team is up to the challenge of their game slate.
“We have the hardest schedule in the country….and while in some ways that can be difficult, I think it’s the best way to find out your identity if you want to be good,” she said. “It’s easier to figure out how to get really good when we get challenged.”
The Gamecocks got off to a 9-2 start, which had shrunk to a four-point advantage at the end of one. USC tightened up their defense in the next frame, holding them to 26.7 percent shooting and leading briefly by one point. The visitors lead by two at the break.
South Carolina played a blistering third quarter to lead by 10 at the end. In the fourth, they pushed their lead to as high as 17 points, while holding the Trojans to just seven points.
Staley said senior center Madina Okot, who finished with 15 rebounds, gave the team a huge lift.
“I have to give a lot of credit to Madina for controlling the paint,” Staley said. “She was where we needed her to be, time and time again. She’s a part of us finding our identity.”
Gottlieb said she liked her team’s fight, but acknowledged there is work to be done.
“I’m disappointed that we couldn’t hold on and be a little more competitive down the stretch tonight,” she said.
Part 2 of the “SC” series will take place next fall in South Carolina.