10:00 AM
It has been more than eight months since the Cardinal beat South Carolina 66-65 in the national semifinals in San Antonio to win their third national championship.
Sometimes a game doesn't have much effect on a new season. The past is more relevant as South Carolina hosts the third ranked team in the country on Tuesday, with almost all of the key players back from the April 2 meeting in the Alamodome. One of the marquee games of the women's college basketball season is expected to take place on the ESPYS.
The replay of Aliyah Boston's pained reaction to a missed putback at the end of the NCAA tournament game has been a source of amusement for the fans of the USC. Without Boston's steal and subsequent offensive board, she never gets a chance at that putback. She did everything she could to give South Carolina an opportunity to win.
Maybe that's just a little bit of extra motivation for the 11-0 Gamecocks as they look to stay perfect in their quest for a title in 2022.
If you've been following women's basketball for a while, you might say that Boston's miss and Arizona's missed 3-pointer at the end of the championship game were just examples of fate finally favoring the Cardinal again at the Final Four.
The Cardinal have lost as many games as they did last season. Haley Jones has played more in the point guard role, although the Cardinal do that by committee as well with Williams gone.
The Cardinal scored 56 and 54 points in their losses to Texas and South Florida, but they are still averaging 71.2 points per game. The Lady Vols were the only team to shoot less than 40% from the field this season, and they lost to the Cardinal.
Jones had 19 boards, and the Cardinal outrebounded Tennessee 52-43. The Cardinal will face the best defensive and rebound team in South Carolina.
Boston had 19 points and 14 rebound in South Carolina's 55-46 victory at Duke on Wednesday. Destanni Henderson has been out since November 29 because of a leg injury. It's not clear if she will return to face her opponent.
The 61st meeting between the top two teams in the AP rankings could be on Tuesday. NC State's loss to Georgia on Thursday could elevate the Cardinal to second in the AP poll. South Carolina is 1-8 all-time in 1 vs. 2 meetings, while Stanford is 1-8 in those.
Play.
The 3-pointer hit by Sarah Ashlee Barker forced OT, and the layup made by Que Morrison in overtime helped take down NC State.
The player of the week was the Georgia Lady Bulldog, Jenna Staiti.
Staiti had a double-double against NC State on Thursday with 21 points and 11 boards. Staiti had 16 points, making 7 of 8 shots, in the win over St Francis.
Staiti has averaged 13.9 points, 7.6 rebound and 2.6 blocks for the season. She played her freshman season at Maryland before moving back to Georgia. Staiti took advantage of the NCAA's blanket eligibility waiver to return for a fifth season after being on the SEC all-tournament team last season.
The team of the week is Kansas State.
It's not as noteworthy as it would be otherwise because of all of Oregon's injuries. Kansas State's victory over Oregon on Saturday moved them to 10-2. They lost to South Carolina. NC State.
We will find out how real K-State is once the Big 12 play starts. The star center is Ayoka Lee, who averages 23.8 PPG, 11.1RPG and 4.0 BPG.
13 Michigan defeated 5th ranked Baylor in overtime.
The program's first win over a top-five team was on Sunday. Michigan won despite Hillmon's absence. She had 15 points and 10 boards. Michigan lost to Louisville.
Cindy Fisher is the coach of the week.
The Longhorns' game against the Arizona was canceled because of the COVID-19 protocol. Is it possible to get to Las Vegas to watch Texas play?
Fisher answered the call, and the Longhorns were able to pull away in the fourth quarter for a 74-58 win. San Diego lost to Arizona State at home on Saturday afternoon, then traveled to play a Power 5 conference team in Vegas. Fisher, in her 17th season at San Diego, isn't afraid to challenge herself or her team.
The power rankings.
Play.
South Carolina won over Duke, 55-47.
1. The South Carolina Gamecocks are 11-0.
The previous ranking was 1
This week, we will face off against Stanford.
South Carolina will face the Cardinal in the sixth ranked game of the season. Boston is shooting 60.2% from the field and is averaging 16.9 points and 10 points per game.
2. The Louisville Cards are 10-1
The previous ranking was 3.
There are no games this week.
The victory over Connecticut on Sunday was a great way to finish nonconference play. Boston College will play Louisville on December 30.
3. The Cardinal is 8-2
The previous ranking was 7.
South Carolinas is this week's opponent.
The depth of the Cardinal's lineup came through in the 74-63 victory at Tennessee. Brink was limited to eight minutes because of foul trouble, but fellow forwards Ashten Prechtel and Kiki Iriafen combined for 22 points and 11 rebound off the bench.
Haley Jones and her team have won four games in a row, including a road victory over Tennessee last week.
4. The Tennessee Lady Vols are 9-1
The previous ranking was 4.
This week's game is against East Tennessee State.
Key played just 16 minutes without making a shot because of foul trouble in the game against the Cardinal. The Lady Vols shot just over 30%. Tennessee, which is averaging 66.9 points per game this season, should build on what it learned against the Cardinal.
5. The NC State Wolfpack is 11-2
The previous ranking was 2.
There are no games this week.
In the season opener against South Carolina, the Wolfpack lost to the SEC team, and in overtime against Georgia. Georgia got more 3-pointers and rebounded than NC State. Going into the holiday break, the NC State Wolfpack had a good performance against Virginia on Sunday.
6. The Texas Longhorns are 1-8.
The previous ranking was 9.
This week: at Princeton.
The Longhorns were able to get San Diego to replace Arizona in the game in Las Vegas. It was the most frustrating game yet for Rori, who played just seven minutes and was ejected. She can grow it.
7. The Arizona Wildcats are 10-2.
The previous ranking was 6.
There are no games this week.
A game against Texas would have been the last nonconference game for the Cats and their second against a ranked opponent. The Longhorns didn't play the Wildcats because they are in the COVID-19 protocol. Arizona is going to play USC on December 31st.
8. The Bears are 9-2
The previous ranking was 5.
There are no games this week.
In overtime, Michigan defeated Baylor 74-68. The Bears were outrebounded 50-35 and their starting guards went a combined 2-of-13 from behind the 3-point line. The Bears have lost to ranked Big Ten teams in both of their losses.
9. The Connecticut Huskies are 6-3.
The previous ranking was 8.
There are no games this week.
Bueckers had knee surgery and is expected to return in February. The Huskies got a lift from freshmanCaroline Ducharme's best game so far, when she played all 40 minutes and had 24 points and eight boards.
10. The Michigan Wolverines are 11-1
The previous ranking was 12.
This week: against Eastern Michigan.
After losing to Louisville in a marquee game, Michigan got a boost with its victory over the Bears.
11. The Indiana Hoosiers are 9-2
The previous ranking was 11.
This week: Southern Illinois and Wright State.
In the Hoosiers' 67-57 victory over Western Michigan on Sunday, the forward had a career-high 19 rebound to go with 17 points. She is scoring 18.4 points per game and 7.8 points per game.
12. The Maryland Terrapins are 9-3.
The previous ranking was 10.
This week: against Coppin State.
The Terps have lost all of their games against top 10 teams. The next big test is January 2 at Indiana.
13. Iowa State is 11-1
The previous ranking was 13
There are no games this week.
The Big 12 season begins on January 2 with a game between the Iowa State and West Virginia.
14. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are 9-2
The previous ranking was 15.
Boston University is this week's opponent.
The Yellow Jackets defeated a top-five opponent for the first time since 2009 on Sunday in their opener against Wake Forest.
15. Georgia Lady Dogs are 10-1
The previous ranking was**
South Alabama is this week's opponent.
Georgia defeated NC State in overtime on Thursday. Georgia Tech was the only loss for the Bulldogs so far. Georgia will play LSU on December 30.
16. The Duke Blue Devils are 9-1
The previous ranking was 14.
This week: at Charleston Southern.
The Blue Devil made it interesting against South Carolina before falling. They forfeited against Miami on Sunday. Duke has a tough early slate, starting with Virginia Tech.
In the waiting room.
The Irish play their next three games on the road.
The LSU Tigers are playing at the West Palm Beach Invitation in Florida this week, facing off against Texas Tech and Clemson.
The Oklahoma Sooners will play Utah on Tuesday.
