South Carolina Women’s Basketball: Dawn Staley’s Squad vs. Florida – Prediction and Scouting Report

Live Update: South Carolina Women’s Basketball Aims to Rebound with Florida Matchup

The No. 4 ranked South Carolina Gamecocks (22-2, 10-1 SEC) are set to host Florida (12-12, 3-7) at 7 p.m. Thursday, marking their first game since falling to Texas on Sunday, 66-62. The Gamecocks are looking to bounce back and start a new winning streak after the disappointing loss.

Florida enters this game on the heels of a loss to Alabama last Thursday. However, the Gators had a break on Sunday, providing them with a full week to prepare for their trip to Columbia.

Historically, South Carolina holds a 24-20 advantage over Florida, and has dominated the recent matchups, winning the last 16 meetings. The last time South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley faced a defeat to the Gators was on January 9, 2011.

Key Players and Storylines for Florida:

Liv McGill, Florida’s standout freshman guard, has been a force this season. Averaging 16.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, McGill ranks No. 13 in the SEC for scoring. In Florida’s loss to Alabama, McGill posted 22 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Despite a less-than-stellar shooting performance (2-of-6 from beyond the arc), she remains a key offensive player for Florida, shooting 34.3% from three-point range.

South Carolina’s guards, Raven Johnson and Bree Hall, will likely be tasked with guarding McGill. With so much of Florida’s offense running through her, the Gamecocks’ defense will need to stay focused on containing her.

In terms of team stats, Florida boasts a strong SEC standing in field goal percentage, ranked third in the conference with a 47% shooting average. South Carolina, by comparison, is slightly behind with a 46.7% shooting rate.

Tough Test for Gamecocks’ Frontcourt:

After struggling against the Texas Longhorns’ height last Sunday, South Carolina’s forwards—Sania Feagin, Chloe Kitts, and Joyce Edwards—face another challenge against Florida’s 6-foot-6 center Ra Shaya Kyle. Kyle has been a dominant force, averaging 15 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. She comes off a solid performance with 15 points and seven rebounds in her last outing. Kyle has registered 12 double-doubles this season and currently sits at No. 4 in the SEC for rebounds per game.

Joyce Edwards Seeks to Bounce Back:

Despite South Carolina’s loss to Texas, Joyce Edwards remains the team’s leading scorer with an average of 12.3 points per game. However, after a streak of eight consecutive games scoring in double figures, Edwards has seen a dip in her scoring, posting just six and nine points in her last two contests. Her most recent double-digit performance came on February 2 against Auburn when she notched 18 points.

Injury Watch:

South Carolina’s injury update will be available after the SEC report is released on Wednesday night. As of Sunday, Ashlyn Watkins was still out. No injury reports were noted for Florida, which had the weekend off.

Score Prediction:

South Carolina is expected to dominate in this matchup, with a projected final score of South Carolina 90, Florida 59. In the aftermath of their loss to Texas, Te-Hina Paopao warned that the next six opponents should expect a tough fight, and it all starts with a commanding win over the Gators.

Stay tuned as the Gamecocks aim to bounce back and extend their winning ways on Thursday night.