South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley offered little clarity on her team’s health as the Gamecocks prepare to face Penn State, continuing a season marked by injuries and illness.
The No. 3 Gamecocks recently wrapped up a game with just seven available players, underscoring how thin the rotation has become. Freshman Agot Makeer is working her way back from a concussion, while guard Tessa Johnson and center Madina Okot have each battled illness in recent days.
COLUMBIA — With Penn State set to visit Colonial Life Arena, Staley declined to provide firm answers when asked about player availability.
“For the most part,” Staley said. “I don’t know. Every day is an adventure, but I tell you this, whoever we have, we’re going to play to the best of our ability.”
South Carolina (9-1) hosts the Lady Lions (6-3) on Dec. 14 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. It will be the Gamecocks’ first game since Dec. 7, when they finished a 106-42 win over NC Central with only seven players dressed.
Makeer, who entered concussion protocol on Dec. 3 and missed two games, was seen at practice shooting free throws alongside her teammates. Staley said the freshman is progressing, but the staff remains cautious.
“With Agot you just have to be careful,” Staley said. “We just don’t want a second (concussion). We’re very, very careful about how we will use her. So it’s good to have her in practice, doing a little bit of things, but not all things.”
Johnson, a junior guard, missed the NC Central game due to illness but appeared healthy in practice, where she was taking both three-pointers and free throws.
Okot, South Carolina’s starting center and the team’s most consistent interior presence with seven double-doubles this season, was not seen at the end of the practice session open to media. She sat out the second half against NC Central after feeling ill, according to Staley.
Roster instability has been a constant theme this season. Through 10 games, South Carolina has both started and finished with all 10 available players just twice.
With SEC play beginning Jan. 1, the Gamecocks still have four non-conference games remaining. The matchup against Penn State is the final home contest until Dec. 28, with a two-game road trip to Florida coming before a brief holiday break.
