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Aiken Standard, S.C.
No. 1 Gamecocks shuck No. 20 Terrapins in season opener
- Story byAiken Standard, S.C.
- No. 1 Gamecocks shuck No. 20 Terrapins in season opener
Nov. 2—PARIS — Dawn Staley said it before they left. What did she want to get out of this trip to France for the season-opener?
"A win," she answered.
Top-ranked South Carolina did that, 101-93 over No. 20 Maryland on Monday in women's basketball. If that's almost all the Gamecocks got, well ...
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They got that, which was the most important goal.
The Gamecocks won but had to cling by their fingernails to nab it, relying on clutch free-throw shooting in the final minute. That was after a 31-point third-quarter lead had been whittled to six.
Joyce Edwards led five in double figures with 23 points while Agot Makeer notched a career-high 20.
But ...
Maryland's trapping defense forced 17 turnovers (and led to 24 points). Every time the Gamecocks (1-0) made a run, the Terrapins (0-1) made a longer run. USC didn't have a chance to display its superior depth, relying on its top seven to play a minimum of 19 minutes each; the next-highest after them was Ayla McDowell with four.
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The Terrapins hit 13 3-pointers, six from Addi Mack, who dropped 35 points on the Gamecocks' shattered defense. Maryland never gave up, not after trailing 20 in the first seven minutes and definitely not after trailing 31 in the first 22.
That it got to six before Edwards, freshman Jerzy Robinson and newcomer Jordan Lee locked it down from the stripe was disturbing, but could hopefully be reasoned away as first-game jitters. Staley did say that this team is young and was playing together for the first time; but also mentioned what she has been preaching since preseason practice began.
Being mentally tough is a goal this year. Staley pinpointed it as an emphasis after the Gamecocks twice put so much into tournament semifinals and then lost championship games last year.
"If you're tired, something else has to kick in, and that's your mental habits," she said. "That's your competitive spirit to give a little bit more in those types of situations."
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They got just enough.
The heavy lean on the starters and top two subs was noticeable, but the Gamecocks did score 101 points. Makeer was perfect on four attempts from 3. Edwards woke from a slow start. Tessa Johnson scored 15 points inside and out.
And Robinson, despite some turnovers when she spelled Johnson at point guard, had 15. Three were when she tried to hit France's Alicia Tournebize with an alley-oop dunk and the ball swished through the net for a 3-pointer instead.
USC was doing everything it wanted to do early and had to fight late. Credit the Terrapins.
"They force you to play a certain way. We predicted they would play the entire game, but we got off to a quick start," Staley said. "This game exposed us to things we need to get better at, and exposed us to things we are good at. We certainly got to play for 40 minutes every time we get on the floor."
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There was a lot of good. USC aced 21 of 24 free throws. Chloe Kitts (eight points, seven rebounds, five assists and a block) and Ashlyn Watkins (seven points, 10 boards, two blocks, two steals) didn't look rusty despite missing last season with injuries. As much was put on USC's offense giving up the ball and seeing it turned into points, the Gamecocks forced 17 turnovers and turned them into 25 points.
"We can be better," Kitts said. "We can be more disciplined."
Next game
The Gamecocks take on No. 12 North Carolina in Charlotte at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.
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