[81alum]

South Carolina is 25-9, with their best win being at Tennessee, as Soem said.

Coach: Dawn Staley.  Staley was a player for Tara on the 1996 Olympics team.  They have a mutual respect for each other.  South Carolina fans note that Dawn is infamous for ranting and raving at officials.  Watching her do that is part of the entertainment.  Dawn, however, says she is trying to be more professional this year.  We'll see what happens if we get Missy.

South Carolina runs a guard-oriented team.  It is one of the stronger defensive teams in the country, holding good quality opposition to 50.7 ppg and allowing only .371 made shots and .215 from three.  Those gaudy defensive numbers were wracked up against the likes of Tennessee, Kentucky, LSU, and Vandy, so unlike Hampton those numbers seem to be significant.  From what I could see South Carolina plays a lot of man and likes to front players to deny them from receiving passes.

Its offense has been suspect most of the year, scoring just 61.3 ppg and making only .399 of its shots.  Lately, though, as its frosh have matured,  it has been playing better offense, scoring 80 in round one and 72 in round two.  About 28% of its shots are from 3 point range–and they have one terrific three point shooter in Markesia Grant (36% but streaky–she has made as many as 5  7 in one game this year.)  South Carolina runs a lot of pick-and-roll plays to get its speedy guards either open for mid range jumpers or loose to take it to the basket.

South Carolina has 9 players who get 10 minutes or more a game.  This seems to be part of its defensive strategy, to keep fresh, energetic defenders in the game. 

South Carolina is led by 3 veteran guards known as the  “eeshas.”  They are all very capable of scoring, stealing, and assisting and seem to rotate the lead in those categories on a night to night basis. 

The three “eeshas” hit free throws at 65-75%, but the team as a whole only shoots them at .587.

Markesia Grant (27 minutes).  5'6" guard.  Senior, leads the team in scoring.  Do not laugh at her height.  While she tends to be streaky, she needs almost no room to get a shot off.  Has taken the most 3 point shots and makes 36%.  11 ppg  Her other nickname on the team is "Grannie."

La’Keisha Sutton (30 minutes).  5'8" guard.  Senior, second (barely) to Markesia in scoring.  Excellent set shooter, reasonable mid range jumper.  10.4 ppg.

Ieasia Walker (30 minutes).  5'8" guard.  Junior, leads in assists and capable scorer.  Tends to do the point more and defer to the other eeshas, although she may have the best “moves.”  8.0 ppg.  The only player on the team with a positive assist/turnover ratio–and only just positive.  She has 62 steals for the year to lead the team.

In addition, two fairly regular starters are

Charnee Stevens (20 minutes).  6'0" forward.  Senior.  Good rebounder but not too active offensively.  5 rpg.

Courtney Newton (12 minutes).  5'9" guard/forward.  Formerly a guard–but slowed by four knee surgeries and a hip surgery and now used more on the interior.  Boxes out well and plays defense.  She starts but usually does not play that long.

Bench:

Some good energy with larger players.

Ashley Bruner. (22 minutes).  6'0" forward.  Junior.  7.2 ppg.  Her weakness is FT% at .386.  5 rpg

Aleigsha Welch (21 minutes).  6'0" forward.  Frosh.  7.6 ppg and leads the team in rebounding with 5.9. 

Elem Ibiam.  (8 minutes).  6'3" forward.  Frosh.  Their one tall player, not sure why she has not been used more, but I would expect to see more of her given our height.

Tina Roy (12 minutes).  A three point specialist, but she is making only .254. 

[81alum]

South Carolina is 25-9, with their best win being at Tennessee, as Soem said.

Coach: Dawn Staley.  Staley was a player for Tara on the 1996 Olympics team.  They have a mutual respect for each other.  South Carolina fans note that Dawn is infamous for ranting and raving at officials.  Watching her do that is part of the entertainment.  Dawn, however, says she is trying to be more professional this year.  We'll see what happens if we get Missy.

South Carolina runs a guard-oriented team.  It is one of the stronger defensive teams in the country, holding good quality opposition to 50.7 ppg and allowing only .371 made shots and .215 from three.  Those gaudy defensive numbers were wracked up against the likes of Tennessee, Kentucky, LSU, and Vandy, so unlike Hampton those numbers seem to be significant.  From what I could see South Carolina plays a lot of man and likes to front players to deny them from receiving passes.

Its offense has been suspect most of the year, scoring just 61.3 ppg and making only .399 of its shots.  Lately, though, as its frosh have matured,  it has been playing better offense, scoring 80 in round one and 72 in round two.  About 28% of its shots are from 3 point range–and they have one terrific three point shooter in Markesia Grant (36% but streaky–she has made as many as 5  7 in one game this year.)  South Carolina runs a lot of pick-and-roll plays to get its speedy guards either open for mid range jumpers or loose to take it to the basket.

South Carolina has 9 players who get 10 minutes or more a game.  This seems to be part of its defensive strategy, to keep fresh, energetic defenders in the game. 

South Carolina is led by 3 veteran guards known as the  “eeshas.”  They are all very capable of scoring, stealing, and assisting and seem to rotate the lead in those categories on a night to night basis. 

The three “eeshas” hit free throws at 65-75%, but the team as a whole only shoots them at .587.

Markesia Grant (27 minutes).  5'6" guard.  Senior, leads the team in scoring.  Do not laugh at her height.  While she tends to be streaky, she needs almost no room to get a shot off.  Has taken the most 3 point shots and makes 36%.  11 ppg  Her other nickname on the team is "Grannie."

La’Keisha Sutton (30 minutes).  5'8" guard.  Senior, second (barely) to Markesia in scoring.  Excellent set shooter, reasonable mid range jumper.  10.4 ppg.

Ieasia Walker (30 minutes).  5'8" guard.  Junior, leads in assists and capable scorer.  Tends to do the point more and defer to the other eeshas, although she may have the best “moves.”  8.0 ppg.  The only player on the team with a positive assist/turnover ratio–and only just positive.  She has 62 steals for the year to lead the team.

In addition, two fairly regular starters are

Charnee Stevens (20 minutes).  6'0" forward.  Senior.  Good rebounder but not too active offensively.  5 rpg.

Courtney Newton (12 minutes).  5'9" guard/forward.  Formerly a guard–but slowed by four knee surgeries and a hip surgery and now used more on the interior.  Boxes out well and plays defense.  She starts but usually does not play that long.

Bench:

Some good energy with larger players.

Ashley Bruner. (22 minutes).  6'0" forward.  Junior.  7.2 ppg.  Her weakness is FT% at .386.  5 rpg

Aleigsha Welch (21 minutes).  6'0" forward.  Frosh.  7.6 ppg and leads the team in rebounding with 5.9. 

Elem Ibiam.  (8 minutes).  6'3" forward.  Frosh.  Their one tall player, not sure why she has not been used more, but I would expect to see more of her given our height.

Tina Roy (12 minutes).  A three point specialist, but she is making only .254.