South Carolina guard drove into the paint within the third quarter. As she went up for the layup, she was met by , who rose up and swatted the ball so onerous into the stands that it knocked the hat off a fan sitting a pair rows deep within the Crypto.com Area crowd.
That ended up being the spotlight of the Trojans’ second half.
That they had been on this scenario earlier than. Of their most up-to-date sport at No. 9 North Carolina State, trailed by eight with 9:48 left to play earlier than . And on Saturday night time, the Trojans discovered themselves right here once more: down 10 to South Carolina, the No. 2 group within the nation, heading into the ultimate body.
No. 8 USC didn’t make it straightforward on South Carolina. They pressured turnovers. They made their free throws. Nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient as South Carolina did simply sufficient of the little issues to flee with a at Crypto.com Area.
Smith led USC in scoring with 12 factors to go together with three assists. Kara Dunn was the one different Trojan in double figures with 10 factors and three rebounds. South Carolina had 4 gamers rating in double figures, led by ’ 17 factors. South Carolina held to eight factors on four-of-11 capturing from the sector.
The Gamecocks (4-0) got here out sloppy with six first half turnovers and capturing simply 33% from the ground, however the Trojans (2-1) couldn’t capitalize. Their capturing share (36%) was virtually as unhealthy by the primary two quarters they usually have been out-rebounded 27-20 as South Carolina scored 9 second probability factors on 9 first-half offensive boards.
The cracks began to point out within the second half, when South Carolina opened with a 10-2 run to provide USC a double-digit deficit. The Gamecocks outscored the Trojans 23-15 within the third.
South Carolina constructed on each benefit that they had from the primary half. Their plus-seven in rebounds ballooned to plus-24. They went from 9 offensive rebounds to 21, and whereas they nonetheless completed the sport with 16 turnovers, they pressured with 16 factors off USC’s 13 turnovers.
