South Carolina women's basketball: Five Things to Watch - UCLA
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1. About last time
UCLA and South Carolina met earlier this season in Columbia on November 29. UCLA gave South Carolina fits and the game was tied going into the fourth quarter, when the Gamecocks pulled away.
I asked coaches and players from each team how they have changed since that meeting. You can read that story HERE.
2. UCLA
UCLA was able to frustrate South Carolina by playing lots of zone and sagging off the Gamecocks’ guards. South Carolina countered by going over the top of the zone to Aliyah Boston and Kamilla Cardoso.
Boston had 18 points and 10 rebounds and Cardoso had 16 points and nine rebounds. Boston also had three assists by feeding Cardoso from the high post.
South Carolina also used 6-4 Laeticia Amihere to initiate the offense and see over the defense. Amihere has not played much point guard over the last month, but smiled and laughed when asked if she would run the show Saturday.
“Whatever coach has, whatever coach has,” she said.
A lot of teams have followed UCLA’s blueprint and tried to zone South Carolina. At this point they feel like they have seen it all.
“Most teams play zone on us so you’re going to find a way to beat that,” Amihere said. “We’re ready for whatever people play us in. We know what to expect because they played zone against us. If they play man we’re ready for that too.”
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3. Kiki Rice
UCLA freshman point guard Kiki Rice was the #2 overall recruit last year and has been an impact player from her first day on campus. She averaged 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game this season
Rice had 16 points and five rebounds in the first game against South Carolina, but she also had a freshman moment. In the fourth quarter, Rice was whistled for a questionable foul. In frustration she slapped the basketball away, drawing a technical foul.
The mistake led to five points for South Carolina and turned a four-point lead into a nine-point lead.
It was a teachable moment for Rice, who said she doesn’t think about it that much, about how every detail matters, something UCLA has preached this week.
“Obviously, I’ve matured as a player throughout the entire season, getting used to playing at this level and this stage,” Rice said. “I don’t feel like feel like a freshman anymore. I’ve played enough games against elite competition to know what it’s like to play at this level.
We’ve all had enough experience at this point to not use being freshman or being young as an excuse.”
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4. Fletch, Too
Although Amihere saw significant playing time at point guard, it was Kierra Fletcher that had the big game with 12 points and 10 rebounds. UCLA sagged off of Fletcher, daring her to shoot.
It worked for a half, and then in the third quarter, Fletcher decided enough was enough. She started taking and making those open shots and forced UCLA to adjust its game plan. Fletcher said she won’t wait a half if the Bruins try to leave her open again.
“Honestly I don’t know, but if they do I’m going to have the confidence to take those shots but still get the team in the offense and get us in the right position,” Fletcher said.
5. Scouting the Bruins
We haven’t mentioned UCLA’s best player yet, Charisma Osborne. Osborne had 20 points in the first game and is coming off a career-high 36 against Oklahoma in the second round. For the season Osborne is averaging 15.9 points 5.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.
“It’s also what makes me trust her in such big moments, that strength of will, that competitive spirit,” Cori Close said. “Look what she’s doing right now when the lights are brightest.”
Close said the gameplan for UCLA is fairly simple: keep the Gamecocks off the offensive glass and make basket to keep them out of transition. She conceded that it is easier said than done.
“Their defensive numbers and rebounding numbers are remarkable,” Close said. “They get 48 percent of their offensive misses. The amount of second opportunities. Then the way they capitalize in transition off of any of your mistakes. I think this is not a complicated game plan for us, this is just a hard one to execute because they’re so good at what they do.”
The Ws
Game 1
Who: #2 Maryland vs #3 Notre Dame
When: 11:30 AM, Saturday, March 25
Where: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC
Watch: ESPN
Game 2
Who: #1 South Carolina vs #4 UCLA
When: 2:00 PM (or 30 minutes after game 1), Saturday, March 25
Where: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC
Watch: ESPN
