The No. 1 South Carolina women's basketball team opened its 2024-25 national title defense by avoiding a season-opening scare in a 68-62 victory over the Michigan. The game was part of the Hall of Fame Series hosted at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
This victory marks the Gamecocks' 39th consecutive win, dating back to the beginning of last season. It was also the first-ever matchup between the two programs.
Michigan's offense started the game strong by generating points from South Carolina's missed scoring opportunities to gain and early 7-0 lead. The Gamecocks opened the game 0-6 from the field, scoring its first points of the season four minutes into game when junior forward Chloe Kitts made back-to-back layups.
Kitts netted 8 points in the first quarter, a number just shy of the 9.1 points per game averaged over the course of the 2023-24 season.
The Gamecocks continued to struggle on offense throughout the first half, making just 34.1% (15-44) of its shots during that time frame. But an uncontested 3-point shot from sophomore guard Tessa Johnson with three seconds remaining provided South Carolina with a late momentum boost, despite trailing 38-37 at halftime.
Kitts remained a key contributor on both ends of the floor in the opening half, leading the team with 10 points and seven rebounds. The forward would be the only South Carolina player at the break in double figures. The Gamecocks also struggled from shooting behind the arc with a 17.6% shooting percentage (3-17) on those shots.
South Carolina's inefficient offense carried over into the third quarter, when senior guard Te-Hina Paopao, who led the nation in 3-point percentage in 2023-24, missed three shots at the start of the quarter, all less than one minute apart from one another.
Both teams struggled to make outside shots, which resulted in Michigan and South Carolina starting attacking the paint more frequently. The half remained close, with the Gamecocks holding onto a single-possession lead at the end of the third quarter. Wolverines senior guard Jordan Hobbs recorded 11 of Michigan's final 13 third quarter points.
The Gamecocks would rely on its ability to get to the free-throw line throughout the fourth quarter. But on the other side of the court, South Carolina let up defensively with under one minute of play. This allowed freshman guard Syla Swords, a five-star recruit and 2024 Olympian, to hit a step-back 3-pointer that pulled Michigan within two points with 22 seconds remaining.
The Wolverines, however, were forced to foul, leading to clutch free throws from Kitts and freshman forward Joyce Edwards to seal South Carolina's win.
Shots cannot seem to fall
South Carolina shot 54% (48-88) from the field in its previous exhibition win against Clayton State a week before Monday night's game. The reigning national champions looked poised to create shots prior to the regular season opener, but the team struggled to muster its first points with six minutes to play in the first quarter against Michigan.
Junior guard Raven Johnson headlined South Carolina's shooting inefficiency Monday night, as she recorded just two points on 0-8 shooting from the field.
"Raven's been hitting those shots in practice, and she's been hitting those shots in our exhibition game, so I don't think she's taking bad shots," head coach Dawn Staley said. "We would probably much prefer with her in a little bit more rhythm."
The Gamecocks' shooting performance against the Wolverines exemplified an area that Staley said she wants wants to improve, but she knows it is the cost of playing competitive, high-intensity basketball each game. South Carolina is set to face off against 12 teams ranked in the preseason national polls this season.
"I like that we've been challenged," Staley said. "I like the fact that we've been exposed in certain areas … (It's going to be) a great gut check."
Kitts shines in season opener
The Gamecocks have been looking for a player to replace the production generated from Kamilla Cardoso, a key part of South Carolina's championship-winning team who is now in the WNBA.
Kitts took charge and led the team with 19 points on 50% (7-14) shooting from the field, in addition to 14 rebounds. Tessa Johnson (15) and Edwards (10) were the only other South Carolina players to finish in double figures.
During the national championship game against Iowa last year, Kitts stepped up to record her sixth double-double of the season in just seven minutes of play, which foreshadowed her performance in this year's season opener.
Kitts said she was self-aware of what she had to work on during the offseason to improve upon her game.
"I feel like confidence. My team and my coaches help with that," Kitts said. "And also my body — last year I was falling every possession ... so just getting bigger and hitting the weight room."
Kitts also took accountability for the team's overall performance and said that she is optimistic that South Carolina's play will improve.
"This is going to fuel us," Kitts said. "We know we can do better, and we will."
Effort on the court
South Carolina opened as 21-point favorites ahead of its matchup against Michigan, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
Staley credited the Gamecocks' inability to build a hefty lead to inexperience, from even her experienced players and said that many players have new roles.
"You've got to make an impact. It just can't be nothing," Staley said. "We can pull somebody out of the stands to give us nothing."
Staley added that she wants South Carolina to showcase more effort in its upcoming games.
"I thought they just put us back on our heels," Staley said. "I thought they got all the 50-50 balls. I thought they just played harder."
What's next?
South Carolina will look to improve to 2-0 as it travels to Charlotte to take on No. 9 NC State in the Ally Tipoff on Sunday. Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.