Gamecock Highlights
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For the second consecutive year, the Gamecocks and Hoosiers will face off in the NCAA Tournament. Both squads return a large portion of the players who participated in the 2024 Sweet 16 clash, where South Carolina triumphed 79-75, fending off a late surge from the Hoosiers.
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The Gamecocks have maintained their impressive shooting performance in the postseason, hitting 52.8 percent from the field during the SEC and NCAA Tournaments, including an exceptional 67.2 percent in Friday’s game, ranking as the third-best mark in the Dawn Staley era.
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With an average of 16.9 assists per game, the Gamecocks rank 28th in the nation. This figure has risen to 19.0 during the postseason, highlighted by a remarkable 25 assists on 43 field goals during their first-round victory on Friday night.
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Leading the country in bench scoring, South Carolina averages 42.2 points per game from its bench, which is a notable 10 points higher than the next closest competitor. Their 66 bench points in Friday’s game set a record for the most in NCAA Tournament history.
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South Carolina’s dominance in the paint has them averaging 43.1 paint points per game, nearly two points ahead of Notre Dame’s 41.5. In the postseason, this statistic has surged to 51.5 points per game, with the Gamecocks outscoring opponents by an impressive average of 29.0 points in that area.
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Facing the toughest schedule in the nation, South Carolina holds the second-best scoring margin at +23.8. Their 12 victories against ranked teams come with a margin of +20.0.
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Junior Chloe Kitts is finishing a standout season with an even stronger postseason, averaging 15.0 points per game on 70.0 percent shooting in her last four games, while also contributing 3.0 assists per game. Freshman Joyce Edwards has made an impact as well, leading the team with 16.5 points per game, including a 22-point performance on Friday that put her among the few Gamecock freshmen to score over 20 in an NCAA Tournament game.
By the Numbers
5 – Five Gamecocks are scoring in double figures during the postseason, including three bench players.
14,521 – If Sunday’s game attracts at least 14,521 fans, South Carolina will set a new NCAA average attendance record.
The Indiana Matchup
The all-time series between the Gamecocks and Hoosiers stands at 4-2, with a 1-1 record during the Dawn Staley era. Their last encounter occurred in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, where South Carolina emerged victorious with a 79-75 win on March 29 in Albany to reach the Elite Eight. The Gamecocks built an 11-point lead after the first quarter and maintained a six-point advantage by halftime. Although Indiana rallied in the second half, closing within two points in the final minute, the Gamecocks sealed the win with critical free throws.
NCAA Tournament Overview
South Carolina is making its 21st appearance in the NCAA Tournament and its 13th consecutive one under head coach Dawn Staley. The team boasts a 51-17 overall tournament record, including an unbeaten 17-0 at home, with 14 appearances in the Sweet 16 (10 consecutive), eight in the Elite Eight, six in the Final Four, and three National Championships. They have been the overall No. 1 seed three times (2022, 2023, 2024) and a regional No. 1 seed on nine occasions, holding a 35-5 record as a top seed.
Bench PowerHead coach Dawn Staley utilizes her 13-player roster effectively, enabling complete line changes with minimal decline in performance.
This season, South Carolina’s bench leads the NCAA in scoring, averaging 42.2 points per game, which constitutes 51.9 percent of the total offensive output. This percentage climbs to 59.0 against ranked teams and 72.9 in SEC games. The bench has outperformed their adversaries’ bench by an average of 27.0 points per game, with 21.1 against ranked squads and 24.1 during SEC competition. They have also outscored the opponent’s starting lineup 17 times, including against four ranked teams, and surpassed the entire opposing team’s score on nine occasions.
The bench set a new NCAA Tournament record with 66 points in the opening contest against Tennessee Tech (March 21).
They also average 16.0 rebounds per game from the bench, accounting for 41.5 percent of the team’s total rebounds, compared to just 8.6 rebounds per game from their opponents’ bench.
