COLUMBIA, SC – South Carolina coach Dawn Staley couldn’t be happier with how her top-ranked team responded to difficult situations this season.
The Gamecocks did this again on Sunday, starting quickly to defeat LSU 66-59 for their 31st consecutive victory at the Southeast Conference.
The week did not start as Staley wanted, with a loss on Monday to UConn number 2, just hours after South Carolina returned to first place. But his team ended the week with two SEC wins while chasing more league championships.
“I am very happy with the way our team approaches each game,” said Staley.
A season ago, the Gamecocks had the luxury of talented senior leaders from point guard Tyasha Harris and striker Mikiah Herbert Harrigan while winning regular season and league tournament titles to finish 32-1.
This group, Staley acknowledged, was more of a long-term project with Destanni Henderson taking on the role of Harris and several inexperienced attackers replacing Herbert Harrigan.
They are up to the task for South Carolina (17-2, 12-0 SEC).
Henderson scored 19 points and Aliyah Boston added 12 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks in the Gamecocks’ victory over LSU for the 12th straight time.
The Boston double was his 10th this season and 23rd of his career. Zia Cooke added 13 points for Gamecocks.
Jailin Cherry had a career record of 19 points to lead LSU (8-10, 6-6). Faustine Aifuwa had 11 points and 12 rebounds, his ninth double-double this season for the Tigers.
LSU coach Nikki Fargas was pleased with her team recovering in the fourth period to make the game even more intense. The Tigers forced eight turns in South Carolina in the final period.
“When the ball enters the ring for us, it allows us to configure our press,” said Fargas.
Henderson had his second consecutive standout performance after acknowledging his failures – the junior point guard had eight twists and turns – in a 63-59 loss in overtime for No. 2 UConn on Monday night, which is likely to take South Carolina away. from first place in the new ranking comes Monday.
Henderson, who scored seven points during a decisive third-quarter streak in Thursday’s victory over Missouri, started from where he left off against LSU.
Gamecocks used a 12-0 run and some tight defense in the first quarter to build a big advantage that LSU was unable to overcome. Tigers lost by 18 in the third quarter before reaching a digit at the end.
Cooke started the race with a jumper and two false shots. Henderson hit a basket and Boston followed with two internal shots before Henderson scored the next five points.
Henderson kept up the pressure on LSU with good direction, left-handed layup and a long 3 while South Carolina climbed 27-13.
Henderson finished with three of South Carolina’s four points out of three.
“In the first half we were moving the ball, there was a flow,” said Henderson.
LSU struggled to hit the shots, missing eight straight during a stretch. The Tigers were also negligent in handling the ball, with 11 plays in the first half.
BIG PICTURE
LSU: The Tigers lost their last three games and dropped to 1-4 against qualified teams. Things don’t get any easier in the last two weeks of the regular season; they face opponents classified as Kentucky, Arkansas and Mississippi State in the final stretch.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks, which will drop from first place in the new ranking, seems to have put aside the disappointment of losing to UConn.
STUBBORN STALEY
Staley knew he needed to get some experience for his bankers with the SEC tournament less than three weeks away and the NCAA tournament shortly thereafter. She found time for reservations Laeticia Amihere, Destiny Littleton and Eniya Russell in the last quarter. Although LSU has cut the margin, the experience gained “will change us from a good team to a great team,” Cooke said as he watched from the bench.
MARCO DE STALEY
The SEC’s win in the regular season was the 150th in 12 seasons for Staley. She drew with Texas A&M Gary Blair, with more league wins among active coaches.
NEXT
LSU faces No. 20 Kentucky on Thursday night.
South Carolina visits No. 16 Tennessee on Thursday night.
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