Will Gamecocks 'seize the moment' against UConn?
Only a small handful of teams are capable of beating the powerful Connecticut women’s basketball team in a single game setting.
Already this season, nationally ranked foes Ohio State, DePaul, Notre Dame, Florida State and Maryland have succumbed to the Huskies by double digits.
Tonight, South Carolina gets its turn to take down the seemingly invincible Huskies at sold-out Colonial Life Arena (18,000) in a classic No. 1 vs. No. 2 confrontation.
“I’m glad we playing them at our arena,” USC coach Dawn Staley said. “They (UConn) will have to hear over 18,000 people cheering us on.”
One of two lengthy streaks will end tonight. The Gamecocks are riding a 45-game home winning streak, the longest active home streak in the country. They are ahead of UConn by one game. Their last loss in Columbia was a 50-48 decision to Texas A&M on Feb. 10, 2013, so it has been almost three years since USC fans have seen the Gamecocks drop a game at home.
UConn, meanwhile, carries a 59-game winning streak into tonight’s clash. Their last loss came at Stanford in the second game of the 2014-15 season. After that, they ripped off 37 straight wins en route to their third straight national title.
This season, the Huskies, like the Gamecocks, are 22-0. Three-time All-American Breanna Stewart has eclipsed 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career, and she is aiming for a fourth consecutive Final Four Most Outstanding Player award.
“I think we’re ready for the challenge and there is no question we’ll be ready to play,” Dawn Staley said. “Whether we’re ready to do all the things necessary to beat a tradition like UConn, we’ll see. The more cracks we have at them, we learn about ourselves and we learn why they are as good as they are.”
Considering the ease UConn has dispatched quality opponents this season, the Gamecocks are likely the last major obstacle standing between the Huskies and their fourth consecutive national title.
“I’m glad we took care of our business because I know a lot of people had questions about whether we would be undefeated at this time,” Staley said. “Our kids did what they were supposed to do. It’s tremendous for women’s basketball. It’s great for us to host this event. Our fans deserve it for creating this type of atmosphere."
Surely, coaches around the country will be rooting hard for the Gamecocks tonight. They realize somebody must step up and beat the Huskies in an actual, live 40-minute basketball game and USC might be the only team in the country possessing the talent and depth to do it.
“When you’re as good as UConn, some people want to have the thrown overturned at some point,” Staley said. “For us, I’m just glad we’re part of the equation. Now we have to do our part. Our players will be well prepped to do that. Our coaching staff will put together a game plan that increases our chances of winning when you lok at what happened last year.”
Last season’s game between USC and UConn in Storrs, CT was a heavily-hyped No. 1 vs. No. 2 battle. The Huskies prevailed, 87-62 and cruised to the national championship.
Gamecock players acknowledge last year’s 25-point loss left a sour taste in their mouths. Will they avenge that setback on Monday night?
“We’re all ready for it,” USC sophomore A’ja Wilson said recently. “We’re not going to change up anything. We’ll practice and watch film the way we always do. It’s a big game, but it’s still one game. We’ll take it all in and seize the moment. Both teams are ready and I think Colonial Life Arena is ready as well.”
