Top-seed South Carolina draws on past Syracuse experience

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Dawn Staley got the first real confirmation of her team’s toughness against Syracuse four months ago. South Carolina’s coach hopes to see that affirmed in Sunday’s NCAA Tournament second-round game with the Orange.

The top-seeded Gamecocks (31-2) try to reach the Sweet 16 for the third time in four seasons when they face No. 8 seed Syracuse (22-9) on Sunday night.

When the teams met in the finals of the Junkanoo Jam last November, South Carolina was ranked No. 2 nationally — a status Staley said her team was still growing into.

The Gamecocks trailed by 10 points with less than seven minutes left before rallying past Syracuse 67-63. Staley said it was the first time the Gamecocks showed they could dig in and find ways to succeed.