The Gamecocks finished the quarter on an 8-2 run, though, and led 64-62 after three. The play led to a Wilson drive and layup for an 84-78 lead with 50 seconds to play.
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The duo scored the Gamecocks’ last 16 points and Coates twice blocked Shayla Cooper’s close-in shots with Ohio State still in contention the final two minutes. Staley spent eight seasons at Temple before coming to SC for the 2008-09 season.
It wasn’t enough against SC (1-0). The battle of the Mitchells – All-Americans Tiffany and Kelsey – did not disappoint, at least on Ohio State’s end. Mitchell won the award named for her coach as best guard within the country in 2014-15, leading SC in scoring at 14.four points per game. Both Wilson and Coates had double-doubles.
While the Gamecocks got outstanding play from their big players, point guard Khadijah Sessions also was solid. “Sometimes when your point guard sees something on the floor you get out of the flow of executing the game plan, and we got stagnant”. The 6-2 Imovbioh had 10 rebound and eight points in her SC debut. “It’s nearly like being a freshman again”, Dawn Staley said.
Senior D: Khadijah Sessions resembled the elite scorer she was at Myrtle Beach High more than she ever has at USC.
Play of the game: Wilson hit a short jumper to give USC an 80-78 lead with 2:17 to play. “… Because we got the result that we wanted to out of their post players”. “We’re going to need them”.
“It is incredible, unbelievable”, said Staley. They drew 29 fouls on the Buckeyes, and fouled out two of the Buckeye forwards. From a big-picture perspective, Friday’s game said a lot positive about the future of women’s basketball.
Ohio State: The Buckeyes could be one of the most experienced teams in the country.
The low shooting percentage is uncharacteristic of Cooper, who shot 47.7 percent last season. That was consistent with their percentage from last season, when they shot 67.4 percent. “I know if it was anywhere else but here we would have been the losing team”.
“We aspire to be one of the best programs in the country, and part of that is going out and proving it”, McGuff said. Alston added 23 points of her own. Staley changed the lineup to start the second half. Coates replaced Imovbioh due to Imovbioh’s foul trouble, and Asia Dozier replaced Roy to get more experience in the game…. The Buckeyes bring just six upperclassmen into the season. However, it still outscored the Ohio State bench 30-10…. USC then unveiled three new banners – for the SEC title, the SEC tournament championship, and the Final Four. The players also received their rings from the Final Four…. WHY OHIO STATE?: SC is playing an exceptionally challenging non-conference slate in 2015-16 with upcoming games against Clemson and UCLA on the road, Arizona State in Hawaii and Duke at home on December 6.
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Ohio State: The Buckeyes could be one of the most experienced teams in the country. “They played to their strengths”. When the Ohio State job opened in 2013, he couldn’t pass up the chance to return to his home state and try to make the Buckeyes into the superpower that many have long thought they could become. “I like the razor sharp focus you need”.
