Ice, Ice Baby (And a Gamecock Beatdown)
COLUMBIA, S.C. — While most of South Carolina was busy panic-buying bread and milk ahead of a looming ice storm, Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks were busy turning No. 5 Vanderbilt into a frozen block of "what just happened?"
In a Sunday matinee that was colder outside than a polar bear's toenails, No. 2 South Carolina (20-2) served up a 103-74 dish of pure revenge against the previously unbeaten Commodores. Coming off an ugly loss to Oklahoma where the defense looked like it was playing in flip-flops, the Gamecocks decided to remind the world that "defense" is a noun, a verb, and a way of life in Columbia.
The "New Look" Gamecocks
Staley decided to get funky with the lineup, swapping out her 6-foot-6 skyscraper Madina Okot for the 6-foot-1 Swiss Army knife freshman Agot Makeer. The result? A first half that looked more like a track meet than a basketball game.
The Shooting: South Carolina shot a blistering 65 percent in the first half.
The Scoring: They hung 55 points on Vandy before the halftime orange slices were even sliced.
The "Welcome to the SEC" Freshman Experience
Vanderbilt freshman sensation Aubrey Galvan has been the talk of the town, but Sunday was a rough day at the office. The Gamecocks' swarming defense treated Galvan like she owed them money, hounding her into a measly one assist in the first half. She finished with three—less than half of her usual "magic show" average.
Meanwhile, Vanderbilt star Mikayla Blakes did her best to keep the ship from sinking, dropping 23 points and leading a third-quarter rally that cut the lead to seven. But then the Gamecocks went on a 27-8 run, effectively telling the Commodores, "Thanks for stopping by, please watch your step on the ice."
Redemption Tours & Paint Parties
Ta’Niya Latson: After a career-worst 10% shooting performance against Oklahoma, Latson bounced back like a rubber ball, dropping a team-high 21 points.
The Paint: Between Joyce Edwards and Madina Okot, the Gamecocks scored 56 points in the paint. They basically treated the lane like their personal VIP lounge.
The "Last Team Standing" Watch
With Vanderbilt finally tasting defeat, the "Undefeated" list has shrunk to exactly one name: UConn (21-0).
The SEC standings are now a chaotic mess of high-fives and tiebreakers. South Carolina and Vanderbilt are technically tied for second, while No. 17 Tennessee remains in first place simply by virtue of not playing. The Lady Vols’ game against No. 18 Ole Miss was postponed because Mother Nature decided the South needed more ice and fewer three-pointers.
The Bottom Line: The Gamecocks proved that if you want to beat them, you better catch them on a day when they aren't mad. Because when they're mad, they don't just win—they melt the ice.
