No. 1 South Carolina's record-setting defense stifles Mississippi Valley State

South Carolina Women’s Basketball: News • Recruiting • Schedule • Roster • Stats • SEC Standings • NCAA Polls • Scholarship Chart

---

No. 1 South Carolina took care of business against overmatched Mississippi Valley State, cruising to a record-setting 101-19 win. 

According to the NET rankings, Mississippi Valley State was the third-worst team in the country last season. The Devilettes had already lost 104-45 to Utah and 109-47 to LSU this season, so there was little expectation that they could offer much of a challenge. 

There were no Black Friday surprises. 

Defensively, South Carolina held Mississippi Valley State to 8-67 shooting, forced 19 turnovers that they turned into 20 points, and added to its nation-leading block average with 15.

“They’re a team that scrambles and scraps and they try to muck it up a little bit,” Dawn Staley said. “At some point our talent just took over.”

[$1 for unlimited access to GamecockCentral’s content and community]

South Carolina set program records for the fewest points allowed (19), the lowest field goal percentage allowed (11.9%). Mississippi Valley State scored six points in the first and second quarters, but only four in the third and three in the fourth. The seven points in the second half is also a program record for points allowed in the second half.

“It starts in practice,” Raven Johnson said. “We’ve been more dialed in on the defensive end in practice. I think communication plays a huge part, just telling each other that we’re good and switching off screens. I think it started in practice.”

Staley complained about South Carolina’s defensive effort earlier in the season, but has seen progress. 

“I think we’re communicating a lot earlier when we have ball-screen activity,” Staley said. “In this game I did see us get beat off the dribble and not respond well to it. It gives us something else to keep harping on our players about.”

South Carolina’s 82-point margin of victory is the largest of the Dawn Staley era and the second largest behind the 137-34 win over Wheeling in 1979.

• South Carolina-Mississippi Valley box score

South Carolina began the game looking a little sluggish, but by the second quarter the Gamecocks had found their rhythm. 

“I thought we responded really well,” Paopao said. “We figured it out and locked in and you saw the result.”

All ten Gamecocks scored and seven hit double figures. MiLaysia Fulwiley led all scorers with 17 points, Kamilla Cardoso had a double-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks. Ashlyn Watkins also had 14 points. 

Sania Feagin added 12 points, Chloe Kitts had 11, and Te-Hina Paopao had 10 points and eight rebounds. Raven Johnson had 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and five steals.

South Carolina shot 55% for the game, had 27 assists on 41 baskets, and 72 points in the paint. The Gamecocks doubled up the Devilettes on the glass, 66-33. 

Notes:

Tessa Johnson missed her third consecutive game with a sprained right ankle. … Mississippi Valley freshman Teniya Morant is the younger sister of NBA player Ja Morant. The Devilettes wore Nike Ja 1 Halloween Zombie shoes. … Sh’Diamond McKnight scored the first basket of the game, so technically it was a come-from-behind win for South Carolina and Paopao hit the go-ahead three. … Six Gamecocks had at least three assists, and four had at least four assists. … Devilettes coach Kimberly Anderson is from Hartsville and grew up playing with Jolette Law. … Dawn Staley’s outfit: Black Gucci hoodie. … Announced attendance was 14,558. … South Carolina’s next game is at North Carolina on November 30.

Box Score

Discuss South Carolina women’s basketball on The Insiders Forum!