‘They’re playing for Ashlyn’: How USC defense, post players fueled win over Texas

If South Carolina was going to beat Texas, the Gamecocks were going to need to control the post.

That was Dawn Staley’s own predictor for success ahead of the game.

Fast forward to Sunday, and Staley sat in front of reporters after a dominant 67-50 win over the No. 5 Longhorns.

“I think we won that battle,” she said.

South Carolina got off to a slow start on the boards but ultimately out-rebounded Texas 42-40 in the game. The Gamecocks recorded 36 defensive rebounds compared with the Longhorns’ 20, but Texas was able to bring in 20 offensive rebounds — South Carolina had six. The two teams also tied with 32 paint points apiece.

While the Gamecocks might not have literally won each post-related statistical battle, South Carolina’s dominance in the paint was evident even with Ashlyn Watkins no longer available due to a torn ACL.

“We won the battle from a scoring standpoint,” Staley said. “We didn’t win the rebounding battle. But everything below that, like the extra effort, we really concentrated on making sure they got no direct passes in their post and not playing behind them. The times that we did play behind, something bad happened. So we’ll clean that part of it up.

“But I’m just really proud of them because they are playing together, they’re playing for Ashlyn, they’re playing to make sure that people don’t look at us as not contenders.”

South Carolina’s defense was able to limit one of the most prolific offenses in the country this year to just nine points in the first quarter. Texas shot a season-low 27.8% from the field and scored the fewest points its has this season.

The defense’s first-half performance, combined with USC shooting a whopping 70% from the field, helped quash any chances of Texas getting in the game early on.

“I just didn’t have my team ready to play,” Texas head coach Vic Shaefer said. “At the end of the day, they weren’t ready. We had talked about trying not to get popped first and we got hit first, second and third.”

Texas shot 15% from the field in that horrid first quarter, resulting in the fewest points the Longhorns have scored in a single quarter this season.

While she declined to share trade secrets, senior Bree Hall credited South Carolina’s defensive showing to the team’s game plan and communication.

“I can at least say, trusting our help,” Hall said. “The confidence that our coaches gave us, the confidence that we have in each other. Honestly, like we were literally communicating to each other, saying like, ‘I got you. I got your help. I’m there if you need it.’ It was really good, honestly.”

Hall was tasked with guarding Texas’ best player, forward Madison Booker, and played exceptionally well.

Booker, who averages 15 points per game, was stifled on offense. She scored seven points and was 3 for 19 on shooting. Staley praised Hall’s defense after the game, while also saying part of Booker’s lack of production was likely due to an “off night.”

“I’ll be completely honest, I was watching a lot of her game last night,” Hall said of Booker. “Just on YouTube, looking at her highlights, watching, studying what she does. I think also my teammates and the coaches have really put a lot of confidence into me. Just trusting myself and I also made sure that I trusted my help.”

Schaefer tipped his hat to the South Carolina defense’s shot-contesting skills and its ability to disrupt the Longhorns offensively. He also marveled at Texas’ ability to lose the game despite taking 28 more shots, tallying 14 more offensive rebounds and forcing 22 turnovers.

“They’re challenging every shot, that’s part of a great defensive team,” Schaefer said. “When I think of South Carolina, I always think of their defense. They’re always really good and it’s not just what they’re doing on the ball, or on the wing, or in the post. They play out. They’re challenging even to the shot. And that’s part of defense, right, is contesting shots.”

South Carolina schedule: Next 4 games

• Thursday: at Alabama, 7 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)

• Sunday: vs. Oklahoma, 3 p.m. (ESPN)

• Jan. 23: vs. LSU, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

• Jan. 27: at Tennessee, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)