Is South Carolina women's basketball better than last year? Maryland win is promising sign
South Carolina women's basketball is on a mission this season to become just the fourth program in NCAA history to win consecutive national titles. The No. 1-ranked Gamecocks took the first step in that journey Friday with a dominant 81-56 victory over No. 17 Maryland.
Connecticut and Tennessee, two of the most prolific programs in college women's basketball, are the only two teams to win consecutive championships in the last 20 years. After its performance against the Terrapins (1-1), South Carolina (2-0) seems primed to join them in 2023.
In fact, the 2022-23 Gamecocks could be even better than last year's championship squad.
SOUTH CAROLINA BEATS MARYLAND:No. 1 South Carolina women's basketball earns first ranked win 81-56 over No. 17 Maryland
BOLD PREDICTIONS:South Carolina women's basketball: Five bold predictions, including championship repeat
GAMECOCKS RECRUITING:South Carolina women's basketball adds 2023 commitment: Columbia native Milaysia Fulwiley
Brea Beal shows off offensive growth
Senior guard Brea Beal has always been an elite defender, but she showcased her growth as a scoring threat against Maryland. She nearly reached a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds, and she added a team-high four assists. In 2021-22, Beal averaged five points and five rebounds per game.
Beal was most impressive from beyond the 3-point arc, finishing with the best percentage on the team going 3-of-7. However, it was still her defense that stood out most. Seven of her rebounds were defensive, and she logged two blocks and a steal.
As a one-on-one defender, Beal is among the best in the nation: Last season she limited her primary guard to nearly seven points below their pregame averages. If she is able to contribute more evenly in the offensive half, she's going to become one of the Gamecocks' most invaluable weapons.
Depth continues to shine
Coach Dawn Staley rotated almost the entire roster in against a top-20 team, and nine different players earned 10 minutes or more at Maryland. The Gamecocks bench scored 34 points, led by junior center Kamilla Cardoso with 13 points. Cardoso shot 6-of-7 from the field and added five rebounds.
Over the first two games, Staley has utilized the team's size to its advantage, putting both the 6-foot-7 Cardoso and 6-foot-5 superstar Aliyah Boston on the floor at the same time more often than last season. The pair shot 100% in the paint against the Terrapins.
The Gamecocks also rotated between point guards Kierra Fletcher and Raven Johnson, and though Fletcher earned the majority of the minutes before South Carolina took an insurmountable lead, the two recorded very similar numbers. They each recorded three rebounds and a steal, and Fletcher had three assists to Johnson's two. Though both guards are recently returned from season-ending injuries sustained in 2021, both looked capable of anchoring the team against Maryland.
Gamecocks stars haven't missed a beat
Boston is perhaps the biggest name in college women's basketball this season after winning a laundry list of awards in 2021-22, highlighted by consensus national player of the year honors. The senior forward set an SEC record for consecutive double-doubles with 27 straight last season, and she picked up right where she left off with two in a row to start the 2022-23 season. She logged 11 points and 11 rebounds in the opener against East Tennessee State, then elevated to 16 points and 13 rebounds at Maryland.
Zia Cooke, who was named to the preseason All-SEC first team, also came out with a bang after averaging 17 points per game last season. She led the team in scoring in each of its first two games with 17 points against ETSU and 18 against Maryland. Cooke struggled a bit with accuracy from the field, shooting 4-of-14, but she was 4-of-9 on 3-pointers and 6-of-7 on free throws. She also added a team-high two steals.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina women's basketball looks better than ever vs. Maryland
