Nov. 26, 2014

South Carolina Game Notes | Junkanoo Jam

Game Information

Date: Thursday, November 27, 2014 | 4:15 p.m.
Site: Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas
Arena: St. Georges High School
Broadcast: JunkanooJam.com
Radio: 107.5 The Game (Brad Muller); GamecocksOnline.com

South Carolina Notables

• This week’s No. 1 ranking by the Associated Press is the first in program history.
• The Gamecocks have put three different starting lineups on the floor in as many games this season.
• In the last two games, South Carolina’s bench has scored more than the opponent’s complete team – vs. Clemson 45-41, vs. San Diego State 53-38.
• With four Gamecocks standing at least 6-foot-4, South Carolina has scored 45.7 percent of its points in the paint – 118 of 258. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks are seventh in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage, hitting 44.9 from outside the arc.
• South Carolina has assisted on 69.1 percent of its field goals so far this season, including tying the Staley-era record of 25 assists in each of the last two games. The Gamecocks’ 21.7 assists per game are ninth in the nation.
• Defense is still a focal point for the Gamecocks, not allowing more than 61 points in a game this season to rank ninth in the nation in scoring defense (46.7 ppg). In fact, in the last four seasons, South Carolina has yielded 70 or more points just seven times in 105 outings. An opponent has failed to cross the 60-point barrier in 77 of the 105 contests beginning with the 2010-11 season.
• Junior Tiffany Mitchell and forward Aleighsa Welch were named to both the Wooden Award Preseason Top 30 and the Wade Watch List. South Carolina is one of four programs with two entries on both lists.

Notes

A South Carolina Win Would…

• Be the Gamecocks’ fifth straight in an international tournament.
• Be bring head coach Dawn Staley within three wins of 300 in her career.

By the Numbers
0 Opposing players who have scored in double figures in the last two games
2 Double-doubles by Alaina Coates this season
6 Current Gamecocks who earned high school All-America honors from McDonald’s and/or Parade Magazine
8 Gamecocks who are at least 6′ tall, including four who are 6’4″ or taller
12.7 Gamecocks’ rebounding advantage this season
17 Turnovers by the Gamecocks in the last two games combined after committing 19 in the season opener
19 Career double-doubles by senior forward Aleighsa Welch, leaving her one shy of tying for 10th in school history – her eight in SEC action are tied for third
21.7 Assists per game this season for the Gamecocks after handing out 25 in each of the last two games
43.8 Percent of this season’s scoring that has come from the bench (113 of 258)
52 Rebounds needed for senior forward Aleighsa Welch to move into a tie for 10th in career rebounds in school history
69.2 Percent 3-point shooting by Tiffany Mitchell this season (9-of-13) after her school-record 6-of-6 accuracy against San Diego State (Nov. 23)

Wisconsin Series Notes
The Gamecocks and Badgers have never met in women’s basketball, but Wisconsin is just one of two Big Ten Conference schools they have never played (Northwestern). South Carolina is 21-17 all-time against the 12 other members of the Big Ten Conference. The Gamecocks have faced Penn State more than any of the other Big Ten teams with a 4-6 record against the Lady Lions. South Carolina’s most recent Big Ten matchup came in the second round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament when a 72-61 win at then-No. 13 Purdue put the Gamecocks into the Sweet 16.

Offshore Outings
South Carolina is 10-6 all-time in six regular-season tournaments played outside of the contiguous United States. Under head coach Dawn Staley, the Gamecocks are 6-2 in such events, including a pair of titles in the three tournaments. Staley’s team swept three games in the 2012 Paradise Jam last season to win the Reef Division of that event. In her first season at South Carolina, she led her team to the title at the Cancun Thanksgiving Classic.

Poll Presence
This week’s rankings extended South Carolina’s string of Associated Press top-10 appearances to 14, the longest in program history. The previous high was 13 weeks from Jan. 22, 1980 through Dec. 16, 1980. The AP’s No. 1 ranking on Nov. 24 was the program’s first, besting the No. 2 spot the Gamecocks held for five times in their history – Nov. 17, 2014; Preseason 2014-15; Jan. 2, 1982; Dec. 27, 1981; and Dec. 20, 1981.. The Gamecocks opened this season with their highest preseason ranking from the organization, coming in at No. 2 to best the previous high of No. 4 heading into the 1981-82 season.

Trademark TM
Junior guard Tiffany Mitchell made her name last season for her versatility – the only player to appear in the rankings for scoring, rebounding, assists and steals in SEC action. The one element of her game that she had not exploited during that All-America campaign was her 3-point shooting, unleashing that weapon judiciously, attempting just 2.2 per game to account for just 22.1 percent of her field goal attempts on the season. If the first three games of the season are any indication, opponents should be prepared to play the attacking guard a little tighter around the arc. Mitchell is shooting 69.2 percent (9-of-13) from 3-point range – seventh in the nation – with long-range shots accounting for half of her total attempts. Her 6-of-6 effort from 3 against San Diego State (Nov. 23) was the best perfect game in program history.

E-I, E-I, No
Senior center Elem Ibiam is making a charge for the school record for career blocks this season after setting the single-season mark with 83 in 2013-14. The Fayetteville, Ga., native is currently tied for fifth with 133 in her career, matching Ilona Burgrova’s (2005-08) total. Next on the list is Demetress Adams (2006-09) with 140, and the career record of 177 set by Lakesha Tolliver (2004-07) is also well within reach.