South Carolina women's basketball vs. Lady Vols score prediction, scouting report
COLUMBIA — No. 1 South Carolina women's basketball barely escaped Ole Miss with their undefeated record intact, and the Gamecocks now turn to face another challenging opponent on the road.
The Gamecocks (27-0, 14-0 SEC) take on Tennessee (20-9, 12-2) at Thompson-Boling Arena on Thursday (7 p.m., ESPN) after a 64-57 win in overtime against the Rebels on Sunday. The Lady Vols are on a three-game winning streak and have won two of their last three games by double digits.
Tennessee has historically dominated the series with South Carolina, which began in 1972. The Lady Vols won 40 consecutive meetings from 1980 to 2011, but the Gamecocks have won five of the last six under coach Dawn Staley. Last season, South Carolina routed Tennessee 67-53 in Columbia, but Tennessee won 75-67 the last time the two teams met in Knoxville in 2021.
Here's everything you need to know about the matchup and a score prediction:
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Making sense of Tennessee's record
Tennessee has not lived up to expectations after it was voted No. 4 in the preseason coaches' poll. The Lady Vols struggled through the most difficult nonconference schedule in Division I and has not been ranked since Week 4. Their nine losses, eight of which came against ranked opponents, place their overall record sixth in the SEC.
The team has been on a steady rise through conference play and has 12 SEC wins, the program's most since 2014-15. The Lady Vols lost by single digits to No. 4 LSU and beat Ole Miss by 14, then suffered their first unranked loss at Mississippi State. The biggest thing Tennessee is missing is a statement win: They can't get over the hump against top teams and have lost five times by single digits.
Handling dynamic duo of Jackson and Horston
Senior guard Jordan Horston and Mississippi State transfer Rickea Jackson form one of the most powerful pairings in the country. Both rank top 10 in the SEC in points per game and field goal percentage and top 15 in rebounds per game.
When Horston and Jackson are at their best, they are practically unstoppable. The pair each logged a double-double in the Lady Vols rout of Arkansas, and they combined for 36 of the team's 61 points plus 13 rebounds in a win over Ole Miss.
However, when either of them struggles, so does the team. In every major loss, one of the two has been limited: Horston logged just eight points against Mississippi State, and Jackson scored a well-below-average 13 against No. 3 UConn. Jackson also missed Tennessee's loss to then-No. 9 Virginia Tech due to a suspension.
Lady Vols have strong paint presence
South Carolina dominates the paint unlike any team in the country, but it's also where Tennessee excels. The Gamecocks rank first nationally in rebounding margin while the Lady Vols rank fifth, and they are particularly strong on offensive boards, averaging 25.3 per game. South Carolina's offense relies heavily on offensive rebounds and second-chance points, so taking away those opportunities will be key for Tennessee.
Elite post players like LSU star Angel Reese underperformed against South Carolina, but what gives the Lady Vols hope is their size. Even with starting center Tamari Key out for the season, they can still compete with the Gamecocks' height thanks to 6-foot-5 Georgia transfer Jillian Hollingshed, 6-3 forward Karoline Striplin and 6-4 freshman Justine Pissott.
Score prediction
South Carolina 82, Tennessee 74: Tennessee has struggled against top teams all season, and they aren't about to start against the best in the country. The Gamecocks start slow — again — and let Jackson get going early, but Aliyah Boston replicates her UConn performance with a second-half explosion.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina women's basketball vs Tennessee scouting report, score
