No. 2 Women’s Hoops Set for Pre-Holiday Finale

COLUMBIA, S.C. — No. 2/2 South Carolina closes out its pre-holiday schedule with a 7 p.m. tipoff against Elon on Tue., Dec. 22, at Colonial Life Arena. Head coaches Dawn Staley (South Carolina) and Charlotte Smith (Elon) spent six seasons as teammates on the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting after battling as ACC rivals playing for Virginia and North Carolina, respectively, for one season (1991-92). Prior to Tuesday’s game two of the Gamecocks’ 2014-15 seniors, Elem Ibiam andAleighsa Welch, will receive their SEC championship and NCAA Final Four rings. Both were playing overseas when the rest of the team received its rings on Nov. 13.

GAME NOTABLES

• •  South Carolina’s offense has proven to get more efficient as the game goes on. On the season, the Gamecocks are shooting 42.7 percent in the first quarter, 46.4 in the second, 49.1 in the third and 50.3 percent in the fourth.
• •  In five home games, the Gamecocks average 83.6 points on 48.6 percent shooting.
• •  For the second-straight season, senior Asia Dozier has ceded her starting position at the start of the season only to work her way back in. Over the last three games, she averaged 8.3 points on 60.0% shooting (9-of-15), including 62.0% from 3-point range (5-of-8), and 2.7 assists.

ELON SERIES NOTES

The Phoenix lead the series 2-1, but the Gamecocks have won the only other game played in the last 40 years in last season’s 77-44 decision in the 2014-15 season opener. Then-freshman Tiffany Mitchell drew the start in her first career college game, scoring nine points on 4-of-6 shooting and handing out three assists. Three members of Elon’s current senior class also played in that game – Lauren Hudson, Nicole Razor and Autumn Carter – all coming off the bench for a combined 13 minutes.

BY THE NUMBERS

3 Gamecocks ever to combine at least 1,500 points, 290 assists and 185 steals in their careers – Tiffany Mitchell, Shannon Johnson (1993-96) and Martha Parker (1986-89)
5 Of the top 10 attended NCAA Division I women’s games this season played at Colonial Life Arena
6 Double-doubles by sophomore forward A’ja Wilson, already surpassing her 2014-15 total
12 Games on South Carolina’s schedule against teams currently ranked in the top 25, including seven against the top 15
54.1 Percent of South Carolina’s points scored in the paint this season
76.1 Percent free throw shooting by South Carolina over the last three games
83.6 Points per home game scored by the Gamecocks this season in five outings

CRUNCH TIME

The Gamecocks have played three games decided by single-digit points this season, two of which they trailed at halftime but came back to win. In those outings, offense has made the difference with the Gamecocks shooting 52.0 percent from the field in the fourth quarters of those three games. Of these three opponents, only Arizona State out-shot South Carolina in the fourth quarter (35.3-31.3) with the Gamecocks making up the difference at the free throw line and on the glass in the waning moments of the contest. Overall, South Carolina shoots much better in the second half (49.7 percent) than the first (43.6 percent) as opposing defenses begin to feel the effects of the Gamecocks’ frontcourt and pace of play. The buildup of offensive efficiency is steady throughout the game with South Carolina hitting 42.7 percent from the field in the first quarter, 46.4 percent in the second, 49.1 in the third and 50.3 percent in the fourth. Just eight of the 21 quarters in which the Gamecocks have shot at least 50 percent have come in the first half.

THE SENIOR SESSIONS

Named a team captain for the second time in three seasons, senior Khadijah Sessions has had a vice-like grip on the starting point guard spot for the Gamecocks over the last three seasons. After leading the team to back-to-back SEC regular-season championships and the program’s first NCAA Final Four during that stretch, the Myrtle Beach, S.C., native took the challenge of expanding her offensive game to force opposing defenses to honor her as a scoring threat, especially in a half-court set. Sessions has delivered so far, shooting a career-best 46.5 percent from the field this season. She has scored at least five points seven times through 11 games, including a pair of double-digit outings. In the Gamecocks’ last three home games, Sessions hit 6-of-10 from the field. Meanwhile, her assists (2.7 per game) and steals (1.9 per game) have remained on par with her previous two seasons’ averages.