Gamecocks’ 1 vs. 2 Matchup Set for ABC Sunday – University of South Carolina Athletics

Gamecock Notables

• Sunday’s game is the second-straight 1 vs. 2 matchup in the series as the two teams hold the same positions they did in last season’s meeting in Columbia. The higher ranked team has won the previous eight games of this series.

• Head coach Dawn Staley has never been shy about challenging her team, especially early in the season. This season marks the second time in the last three campaigns that the Gamecocks have faced two ranked teams in their first four outings (2020-21).

• South Carolina’s rebounding is among the best in the nation year after year, especially on the offensive end. The Gamecocks are third in the nation in offensive rebounding percentage, grabbing 50.5 percent of their own missed shots.South Carolina averages 20.3 second-chance points per game on 16.7 offensive rebounds per outing.

• Reigning National Player of the Year Aliyah Boston has drawn a crowd in the paint this season but still averages a double-double (13.0 ppg/10.0 rpg). As requested by her coach, she has improved her passing as well, handing out 2.0 assists per game.

• Senior guard Zia Cooke has said she felt her best season was ahead of her, and early returns seem to agree with the prediction. Shooting 50.0 percent from 3-point range (9-of-18), she is eighth in the SEC with 16.7 points per game.

• Unsung hero no more, senior guard Brea Beal was named to the watch lists for the Naismith Trophy and the Wooden Award in the preseason. In her fourth season, her complete game has been on display, ranking third in the SEC in blocks (2.0), coming in second in on the team in rebounding (6.7) and assists (3.0) and netting 6.7 points per game. And, her primary defensive assignment is scoring 4.9 points per game fewer than her average.