Copyright Charleston Post and Courier
COLUMBIA — It was known that it was going to be a problem. It’s going to remain a problem. Second-ranked South Carolina’s 65-37 win over archrival Clemson on Nov. 11 was the first time in three games where the problem had an effect. Yes, the Gamecocks won easily. They’ve done that each of the last 15 times they’ve played the Tigers, and a fourth-quarter spurt pushed the final score into the realm of at least a 20-point win that all but three of the others were. But USC (3-0), down to nine players after the team announced an hour before tipoff that sophomore guard Maddy McDaniel, Raven Johnson’s top backup at point guard, was suspended, seemed to be feeling its lack of depth. A first quarter of smothering defense begat a second quarter of lethargy, which while the Tigers (2-1) never hit enough shots to truly take advantage, it was still disturbing. Why was Clemson getting wide-open looks from the 3-point line? Even for a team that was averaging over 22 attempts per game (making nine), 19 tries in the first half was excessive. How were the Tigers deliberately dribbling time, an easy guard, yet still losing Gamecocks on drives to the basket? USC was winning the rebounding total but losing too many potential second chances to swatches of orange. Tired can’t be an excuse. Not now, especially not later. The Gamecocks’ roster is what it is in terms of bodies. Chemistry? It’s being worked on, and that’s perhaps the best way to describe the game. At times, the Gamecocks looked as lethal as they have in each of the last six seasons. At others, they were scattered Legos on the living-room floor after the completed product was dropped by the 5-year-old. An 18-point lead in the third quarter seemed to be the moment where USC floored the accelerator and sent the Tigers back up I-26 in a cloud of exhaust. But the Gamecocks didn’t score for the rest of the period and allowed eight Clemson points. They did produce an 11-2 spurt in the fourth that put the Tigers to bed and held Clemson to two points in the fourth. Joyce Edwards finished with 18 points, while Tessa Johnson had 13 and two others had 12 each. Hey, they won. For the 15th straight time over the team they absolutely, positively cannot lose to. They'll take it Key stats • Clemson launched 33 3-pointers (hitting five), but used the shots to draw USC from the basket and open lanes. It worked just enough to mostly keep the Tigers within striking distance. • USC began the game with an 11-0 run. • USC blocked five shots in the first quarter and five the rest of the game. • The win was USC’s first in the all-sports season rivalry for the school year. The Gamecocks had either lost or tied in each soccer match and volleyball. Clemson leads the series 2-1-1 with the next game the football clash on Nov. 29. • It was the 300th win at Colonial Life Arena for the women's team. The first was in 2002 against Clemson. Woman down McDaniel did not play the last game. That wasn’t strange due to her suffering a slight injury against Grand Canyon. But after being seen at practice prior to Bowling Green and dressing but not playing against the Falcons, USC announced before tipoff on Nov. 11 that McDaniel has been suspended. She was not seen at practice on Nov. 10. Asked then if McDaniel would play against Clemson, coach Dawn Staley responded, “No, probably not.” Next game The Gamecocks play Southern Cal at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on Nov. 15 in the first of a two-game, two-year series titled “The Real SC.”
