COLUMBIA — South Carolina women’s basketball is heading into its biggest game of the season fresh off a dominant performance in a top-20 matchup that rewrote the record books.
The No. 3 Gamecocks (24-2, 10-1 SEC) demolished No. 17 Tennessee 93-50 on February 8, handing the Lady Vols (15-6, 7-2) their worst loss in program history. Now, with an extended break between games, South Carolina prepares to carry that momentum into a marquee showdown against No. 5 LSU (22-3, 8-3) on February 14 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC in Baton Rouge.
The absence of South Carolina’s typical Thursday game provides a unique opportunity—extra time to prepare for what promises to be one of the season’s most anticipated contests. The matchup also features a compelling storyline: former Gamecock star guard MiLaysia Fulwiley now suiting up for the Tigers.
For head coach Dawn Staley, this extended preparation period comes at an opportune moment as her team continues to navigate injuries while sitting alone atop the SEC standings. The game will test whether South Carolina can maintain its championship-level intensity on the road against another elite opponent.
Dominant Defense Sets the Tone
The Tennessee victory showcased South Carolina’s tactical versatility, particularly on the defensive end. Staley employed zone defense more extensively than at any point in her 26-year coaching career, and the results were devastating for the Lady Vols.
“We actually wanted to sprinkle in some zone, but because it was going so well, we just stayed with it. I don’t think in my 26-year career that I played more zone than what we played today,” Staley said. “But I’m not stubborn enough to not go with what’s working. It was working today, and we stayed with it, and I thought it impacted the game.”
The defensive game plan was executed to perfection. “Our main focus for Tennessee was to control the paint. We know they’re going to shoot 30-plus threes. 44 today, right? We just didn’t want them to have both paint points and made threes,” Staley explained.
Key Players Stepping Up
Ta’Niya Latson made a triumphant return despite wearing a knee brace, demonstrating the mental and physical toughness that defines this Gamecock squad. Staley credited her medical staff and strategic rest for Latson’s successful comeback.
“I think the knee brace gave her some security,” Staley noted. “Any time you sustain any kind of pain or injury, you think you’re not the same player. So you don’t do things like you’re the same player, and I thought us ramping her up, her getting into practice all this week, not playing on Thursday, waiting until today, it was the rest and the confidence that she needed to play and make an impact on both sides of fall.”
Point guard Raven Johnson logged 37 minutes in the absence of injured teammate Maddy McDaniel, serving as the steady hand guiding South Carolina through potential adversity. “She’s the calm amongst the storm that could happen during the game,” Staley said of Johnson.
The “Next Woman Up” Mentality
South Carolina’s ability to dominate despite injuries stems from a no-nonsense philosophy that Staley articulated with characteristic bluntness.
“Well, we don’t speak about the injured. We don’t speak about them. We don’t, ‘If this happens,’ or ‘If she could play,’ or ‘That player could play.’ We actually, quite frankly, we consider them dead. We do,” Staley said. “It’s not part of the game plan. They’re unhealthy. So we just go with who is available, and that’s the mentality that we need to have, because we don’t need to sulk on who’s not here and what could happen. Whoever’s available, it is the next woman up, and that’s the way we practice.”
With the bye week before LSU, there’s hope that McDaniel could return. “It’s good that we have somewhat of a bye week. Madd wants to play. I know that. So when you have the mindset of wanting to play, it helps the body heal a little bit quicker,” Staley said.
Sitting Atop the SEC
The victory over Tennessee left South Carolina alone in first place in the SEC, a position that comes with intensified pressure from opponents. Staley embraces the challenge.
“It’s the same exact role where we’ve been the top team in this league and taking on everybody’s best. I’m hoping it works adversely for our opponents. They play so hard that it gets them out of whack,” Staley said. “I hope at some point it backfires on them.”
New Defensive Wrinkles
The extensive use of zone defense adds another dimension that future opponents, including LSU, must account for in their preparation.
“I think they’ll have to prepare for it all. They have to prepare for our man defense, they have to prepare for our zone now, and our three-quarter court stuff,” Staley said. “I think our injuries have made us think a little bit more about how we steal some moments.”
She explained how the zone became more prominent during the Tennessee game: “We went to the zone earlier because Raven picked up an early (foul), Joyce picked up an early one, and we really didn’t want them to pick up their second. So we probably stayed in it a little bit longer than we normally would have, and it was working. Obviously, if it’s going to work, we’re going to continue to work on it and keep teams off balance.”
The Fulwiley Factor
The LSU matchup carries added intrigue with MiLaysia Fulwiley now playing for the Tigers after her time with the Gamecocks. The reunion adds an emotional layer to what is already a critical SEC clash between two championship-caliber programs.
Looking Ahead
As South Carolina prepares for the primetime ABC showdown in Baton Rouge, the team carries the confidence of a historic victory and the tactical flexibility that has defined their season. The extended preparation time allows for rest, recovery, and strategic refinement as the Gamecocks look to solidify their position atop the SEC standings.
For Staley and her squad, the LSU game represents an opportunity to prove their championship mettle on the road against an elite opponent—exactly the kind of test that reveals what a team is truly made of.
The February 14 clash will show whether South Carolina’s blend of tactical adaptability, mental toughness, and next-woman-up mentality can withstand the hostile environment of Baton Rouge and maintain their stranglehold on the SEC race.
