Coming off a recent win against Oklahoma, the Gamecocks feature a 6-0 SEC record. But their opponents are no less than South Carolina’s roster. LSU, too, is coming off a win against Florida and is just three wins away from tying the 2022-23 team for the best start in program history. Not only that, they have a double-double machine, something Dawn Staley is most worried about.
For the head coach, Morrow poses a serious challenge. “You really can’t stop her. It is what she does” Staley said. “You have to find ways to make it hard for her to score. You gotta gain rebounds. It’s all about will and positioning.” And let’s just say, Staley’s worries are not unfounded.
LSU’s Aneesah Morrow is a double-double machine.
Dawn Staley on how @GamecockWBB game plans for her:
“You really can’t stop her. It is what she does… You have to find ways in which to make it hard for her to score. You gotta gain rebound… It’s about will and positioning.” pic.twitter.com/cXouJshqJ5
— Matt Dowell (@MattDowellTV) January 23, 2025
Morrow has been on a tear lately, earning a spot on the Midseason Wooden Award Watch List, being named SEC Player of the Week, and even Naismith Trophy Player of the Week. As if all this wasn’t enough, she’s currently in her fifth year of NCAA play and has already become one of the few players to surpass 2,500 career points and 1,500 career rebounds.
What makes her achievements even more impressive? She’s only just over 6 feet tall. While most players in this standout club are 6-foot-4 or taller, Morrow leads the country in rebounds. In fact, she’s on track to finish as one of the top rebounders in NCAA history.
Even her stats this season are jaw-dropping. She’s averaging 18.7 points while grabbing 14.2 rebounds per game. If she grabs yet another double-double, she’ll surge to second in NCAA D1 history with 93 career double-doubles. And a game against South Carolina could be the one to decide her fate.
Facing LSU’s challenge, Dawn Staley seeks the path to victory
The stakes are high for this game since these two teams only face each other once during the regular season. “It’s a rivalry. It’s a game we must win, obviously, because we only play them once, and you want the tiebreak advantage,” Staley shared. The game, originally scheduled for Thursday, got postponed to Friday due to winter weather, making it even more anticipated.
Staley is ready to lead the Gamecocks to a win over LSU. After Thursday’s practice, she made sure her team understood how crucial this game is. Another element to consider is the officiating and how both teams will need to adjust. The last time these two teams met was during the 2024 SEC Championship, which saw some heated moments and multiple players ejected.
After a 20-minute delay, the game resumed, and the Gamecocks managed to pull off a 79-72 victory. “We feel like the officiating is going to be on it at the start of the game,” Staley said. “So for us, it’s about adjusting to how the officiating is going to be. It’s probably going to be tight.”
South Carolina comes into Friday’s matchup with an 18-1 record, their only loss coming from UCLA nearly two months ago. With the toughest strength of schedule in the nation, the Gamecocks are battle-tested. On the other hand, LSU is having one of its best starts in program history, sitting at 20-0. What’s your take? Who’ll win?
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