South Carolina closes out its schedule before the exam break on Sunday when the Gamecocks host NC Central. As Dawn Staley’s team looks to reset after a pair of close games, here are five key storylines to follow.
1. The Bench Must Step Up
Prior to facing Louisville, Dawn Staley emphasized that she needed to force more production from her reserves — “no matter what.” But that plan didn’t materialize on Thursday.
South Carolina’s bench contributed only four points and four rebounds, and Staley didn’t make a single substitution in either the first or fourth quarters. Maddy McDaniel and Adhel Tac logged five and three minutes respectively — all before halftime. Ayla McDowell played nine total minutes split between the second and third quarters. Maryam Dauda never checked in.
The close score understandably limited Staley’s substitutions. But with a softer opponent on Sunday, expect the coach to rotate early and frequently to push the bench toward becoming a more trustworthy unit.
2. The Okot-Okot Show Continues
Madina Okot enters Sunday tied with Oklahoma’s Raegan Beers for the nation’s lead in double-doubles, with seven in nine contests. Both players take the floor Sunday, giving each a chance to maintain the pace.
Okot is pulling down 11.3 rebounds per game, ranking ninth nationally, and averaging 15.3 points. She is on track to become the first Gamecock since Aliyah Boston during her 2022 Player of the Year campaign to finish the season with a double-double average.
Only Boston (twice), A’ja Wilson (once), and Alaina Coates (twice) have posted double-double seasons for South Carolina since 1993. Okot chose USC in part because of the program’s powerful record of sending post players to the WNBA — a group that includes two No. 1 picks and a No. 2 pick.
Her biggest obstacle on Sunday may be playing time. Against Grand Canyon, she finished with only four rebounds because she played just 17 minutes.
3. Time to Clean Things Up
With all due respect to NC Central, this game is less about the Eagles and more about South Carolina fixing internal issues after back-to-back two-point results.
That means tightening the defense, controlling the boards, and shooting efficiently. Joyce Edwards has been below 44% from the field over the last two outings, while Ta’Niya Latson shot just 33%. The coaching staff wants both players around the 50% mark.
Don’t surrender early leads. Secure rebounds. Limit open shots. Handle the fundamentals, and Staley will head into the exam break satisfied.
4. Will Agot Makeer Return?
Makeer missed the Louisville trip due to concussion protocol, and because of the quick turnaround and travel, South Carolina didn’t hold media availability before the NC Central matchup.
That means there is no update on her status — her availability will be revealed when pregame warmups begin.
5. A Closer Look at NC Central
One lighthearted exchange in Louisville summed up the challenge of scouting NC Central:
“Where is NC Central located?”
“I think Greensboro? Or maybe Raleigh?”
“So somewhere in central North Carolina?”
“Yeah!”
In reality, NC Central is in Durham, and features a beautiful campus listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The program, still shy of 20 years in Division I, has consistently struggled and enters the matchup ranked 316th in NET. The Eagles’ lone win is against UNC Asheville, but they showed some fight in a narrow 68–65 loss at Wake Forest.
Senior Morgan Callahan leads the Eagles with 9.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Fellow senior Aniya Finger is close behind with 9.1 points and 5.9 rebounds. Both recorded double-doubles in the UNC Asheville win, and Callahan posted 19 points and 12 rebounds vs. Wake Forest.
The Essentials
Who: No. 3 South Carolina (8–1) vs. NC Central (1–7)
When: Noon ET, Sunday, December 7
Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC
Watch: SEC Network
