COLUMBIA, SC (WJBF)- It was once a sold-out public at Colonial Presen Space, as ESPN’s College Gameday made the commute to preview the matchup between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the UConn Huskies. Firstly, the ESPN show was once meant to be in Columbia when LSU obtained right here to town earlier this date, nevertheless mother nature and the snow talked about otherwise. The thrill throughout the improvement earlier to tipoff felt like a gathering between two of one of many essential excellent teams’ women’s college basketball has to commerce in.
“There are extra massive video games now than there was once, they usually’ve concerned greater than UConn and South Carolina,” talked about UConn head tutor Geno Auriemma. “There are much more video games that persons are all in favour of watching. I am very pleased with that, as a result of meaning our sport is rising. It is an awesome rivalry, and it grew to become one once they began profitable, it is one of many premier video games in faculty basketball.”
The Gamecocks obtained right here into the matchup in quest of their 72nd consecutive victory at Colonial Presen Space. Alternatively, the UConn Huskies had various plans, handing South Carolina their first home loss since 2020. Geno Auriemma is the all-time winningest tutor in NCAA basketball historic previous, so the 11-time nationwide champion has prepared his avid players to preserve a worthwhile mentality in antagonistic environments like the one they confronted these days in Columbia.
“It was a collective mindset. It was a superb vibe, everybody felt nice going into this recreation. We had but to play a full forty minutes of excellent basketball this season,” talked about UConn cowl Azzi Fudd. “Whether or not it was going to be a detailed recreation, a battle the entire manner by means of, we had been prepared for no matter they threw at us. We by no means let up.”
When requested if UConn carried out a detailed absolute best recreation? Head tutor Geno Auriemma says he bases that off of three components: rebounding, transition safety, and offense. The Huskies have persevered absolute best, undefeated seasons throughout the life. Sunday’s recreation proved to be about as flawless as a result of it is going to get.
“To me, the thought of taking part in excellent basketball is extra about determination making, ensuring we’re linked and taking part in 5 on 5, gamers in tuned with one another, getting contributions from lots of people at key instances. I’ve come down and received by rather a lot and have gotten smacked a bit a pair instances. I understand how onerous it’s to play on the highway with an awesome program like this,” Auriemma talked about.
The UConn Huskies did not let the rowdy order shake them, as they took a 21-14 high going into the second quarter. They’d been on fireplace offensively, draining seven 3 tips throughout the first half undesirable. The Gamecocks had been in unfamiliar area, unwell 45-23 on the half. The scarcity proved to be extra to overcome, as a result of the Huskies picked up correct the place they left off in the second half. South Carolina suffered their first blowout 87-58 lack of the season; a way the Gamecocks had been nowhere shut acquainted with.
“I imply you get again to your habits, we’re not going to vary what we’re doing. A loss like this is not about something moreover retaining the primary factor the primary factor. We’ve to determine that out with our gamers and get again to who we’re,” talked about South Carolina head tutor First mild Staley.
Offensively, South Carolina’s Joyce Edwards as quickly as as soon as extra led the workers in scoring. The Freshman scored 17 points, nevertheless it was once nowhere shut a lot to verify UConn’s dominant effectivity from start to finish. To verify, UConn’s Azzi Fudd poured in 28 points, Sarah Sturdy had 16 points, and Paige Bueckers chipped in 12 points. Defensively, it was once primarily probably the most points South Carolina had giving up all season.
“Whenever you hit 13 threes within the recreation, it is damaging from a psychological level on protection. They’d their manner with us, no level in looking for a silver lining of it, as a result of we obtained beat unhealthy,” Staley talked about.
“We obtained punked in the present day, it was embarrassing. Numerous it was self-inflicted and it isn’t who we’re in any respect,” talked about South Carolina cowl Te-Hina Paopao. “We could not get stops or play protection, we all know we’re higher than that. Numerous it was about effort and toughness and we did not try this, so it is an awesome studying alternative for us.”
The Gamecocks will regroup and put this recreation behind them, as they host the Arkansas Razorbacks on Thursday, February 20. Tip-off is prepared for 7 p.m.