Prediction for South Carolina and Dawn Staley vs. Kentucky in the final regular-season game

South Carolina Women’s Basketball Prepares for Senior Day Showdown Against Kentucky

The regular season is nearly over for South Carolina women’s basketball, with only one game remaining. The No. 6 Gamecocks (26-3, 14-1 SEC) will host No. 14 Kentucky (22-5, 11-4) this Sunday at 2 p.m. (ESPN) for a Senior Day matchup at Colonial Life Arena. Both teams are coming off wins Thursday night.

This Sunday marks the 77th meeting between the two programs, with South Carolina leading the series 41-35. The last time the Gamecocks lost to Kentucky was during the 2022 SEC Tournament.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the game:

Tournament Implications for South Carolina vs. Kentucky

If South Carolina wants a 50% chance at being seeded No. 1 in the SEC Tournament next week, they must beat Kentucky.

The Gamecocks are tied with Texas, each with one conference loss. If both teams win Sunday, it will come down to a coin flip to determine who earns the top seed in the SEC Tournament. If both teams win, they will share the regular-season SEC title.

In the NCAA Tournament picture, South Carolina was revealed as a No. 2 seed and No. 5 overall in the committee’s second in-season reveal of the top 16 seeds. A loss to Kentucky, which would be South Carolina’s fourth loss to a ranked opponent this season, could negatively impact their NCAA Tournament resume and NET ranking, especially since they have only lost one home game all season.

Kentucky’s Georgia Amoore a Key Challenge for Staley’s Defense

South Carolina faces another challenge in defending a star guard in Georgia Amoore. The 5-foot-6 senior guard is averaging 18.9 points per game, the fifth-best in the conference. She leads the Wildcats with 201 3-point attempts and has hit as many as seven in a single game.

Coach Dawn Staley will need to make adjustments after South Carolina struggled to defend the three-pointer against UConn, allowing the Huskies to hit 13 threes in a dominant win in Columbia on February 16. Amoore can score from all areas of the court and is also adept at dishing out a team-high seven assists per game. On defense, she compensates for her height with quickness, regularly jumping into passing lanes to secure steals.

South Carolina’s Forwards Will Be Key Against Kentucky’s Tall Frontcourt

Kentucky boasts one of the tallest frontcourts in the SEC, and South Carolina will need to step up its interior defense after struggling against the height of Texas on February 9. The Wildcats’ Clara Strack (6-5) is averaging 15 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. She had a monster performance Thursday, posting 23 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks against Tennessee.

Next to Strack is 6-3 forward Amelia Hassett, who averages 9.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

South Carolina’s forwards—Sania Feagin, Chloe Kitts, and Joyce Edwards—will need to defend the paint well. Since whoever is guarding Amoore won’t be able to help double team inside, rebounding and defending in the post will be critical for the Gamecocks.

Feagin and Kitts Enter Kentucky Game After Career-High Performances

Fortunately for Coach Staley, her two starting forwards are coming off strong performances in South Carolina’s 75-59 win over Ole Miss on Thursday. Feagin had a career-high 22 points, while Kitts finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and a career-high 10 assists with four steals. This marked the first triple-double for a South Carolina player since Aliyah Boston in 2021.

South Carolina vs. Kentucky Prediction

South Carolina 80, Kentucky 68: The game won’t be easy, but similar to earlier matchups against Texas and Vanderbilt, Staley’s defense will contain both Amoore and Kentucky’s tall post players to secure the win.