Are the contenders beginning to separate themselves from the pretenders in women’s college basketball? Here’s more on the teams and players who made a statement last week:
Gamecocks reestablish greatness
With less than 90 seconds remaining in the first quarter of Sunday night’s game between South Carolina and TCU, South Carolina junior forward Ashlyn Watkins stole the ball from TCU grad guard Madison Conner, raced down the court and dunked the it home over the late contest from TCU grad center Sedona Prince.
Watkins’ right-handed slam—the third of her career—encapsulated the Gamecocks’ win over the erstwhile undefeated Horned Frogs. They took it from them, and then they took it to them.
Before Watkins’ dunk, the Gamecocks were leading by five points, with the early action promising a close contests between the two top-10 teams. Soon thereafter, however, South Carolina proved their superiority. Up 44-23 at the half, the Gamecocks would stretch their advantage to as many as 38 points before cruising to the 85-52 win.
It was a vintage South Carolina domination, with head coach Dawn Staley’s team overwhelming the opponent with aggressiveness, intensity and depth. Sophomore guard MiLaysia Fulwiley led the Gamecocks in scoring with 20 points from off the…
