Rapid Reaction: South Carolina Women’s Basketball vs. Vanderbilt

In a dominant 82-54 victory, South Carolina overcame Vanderbilt in what was expected to be a challenging game. Here are the key takeaways from the contest.

– Memorial Gymnasium, known for its tricky layout and challenging sightlines, was made even more difficult by some controversial foul calls in the first half. These calls put the Gamecocks in foul trouble, while putting Vanderbilt in the bonus. It seemed like a perfect setup for South Carolina to struggle, but they powered through. Despite some poor shooting, they dominated the boards and turned defense into easy baskets. Players like Maryam Dauda made crucial contributions, ensuring the team stayed on track. Dauda followed her solid performance against Arkansas, with nine points and eight rebounds, by adding three points and seven rebounds in this game, filling in when Chloe Kitts and Sania Feagin were sidelined due to foul trouble.

– On Sunday, South Carolina’s cohesiveness was evident. Their ball movement was particularly impressive, reflected in the 16 assists on 30 made baskets. But it wasn’t just the assists – it was also about small but significant plays, like tipping rebounds to teammates or directing loose balls to spots where teammates were ready to grab them. The Gamecocks likely would’ve had even more assists had they been able to hit their jumpers in the first half. Regardless, this performance is another sign that the team is focused and locked in, especially as we approach the postseason. This makes their less-than-stellar showings against Texas and UConn seem even more out of character.

– Dawn Staley often frustrates some fans with her refusal to make frequent lineup changes, but there’s a reason for her consistency. My argument is that constant changes can shake players’ confidence, and if A’ja Wilson could come off the bench, anyone can. However, Staley is not as rigid with her rotations as people think. As the season has progressed, she has begun inserting MiLaysia Fulwiley and Joyce Edwards into the game before the first media timeout, and she’s been more willing to go with the hot hand in the guard rotation. For example, Fulwiley played 13 minutes in the first half, while Raven Johnson only saw eight.

Then, in the third quarter on Sunday, Staley made a bold move. After Khamil Pierre opened the second half with two quick baskets, Staley subbed Edwards in for Sania Feagin within the first two minutes of the quarter. It was a quick substitution, but it paid off. Edwards scored 11 points during South Carolina’s decisive 16-1 run, showing just how effective that change was.