No. 1 South Carolina opened its season with a win in Paris, and for a half, the Gamecocks looked ready to make the rest of women’s college basketball chase them.
Then Maryland made them work for it.
South Carolina defeated the No. 20 Terrapins 101-93 at Adidas Arena on Monday, building a 28-point halftime lead before holding off a comeback that brought Maryland within six in the final minute. The result gave Dawn Staley’s team the season-opening win it traveled to France to get. The closing stretch gave her plenty to review before the Gamecocks’ next game.
The first half showed why South Carolina entered the season ranked No. 1. The Gamecocks made their first seven shots and raced out to a 24-5 lead. They scored 34 points in the paint before halftime, turned Maryland’s mistakes into transition chances and went into the break ahead 61-33.
That combination of size and pace is a difficult problem for any opponent. South Carolina controlled the glass, finishing with a 44-36 rebounding advantage, and created pressure around the basket that Maryland struggled to answer. The Gamecocks also reached the free-throw line more often, attempting 26 shots there to Maryland’s 21.
A 28-point lead became a real test
Maryland’s response made the second half matter. Sophomore Addi Mack caught fire, scoring 31 points after halftime and finishing with a career-high 33. The Terrapins made nine of their 15 three-point attempts in the second half and outscored South Carolina 60-40 over the final two quarters.
What looked like a comfortable opener became a late-game examination. Maryland cut the deficit to six with less than a minute left, forcing South Carolina to close the game instead of simply running out the clock.
The Gamecocks did enough to protect the lead, but the comeback is a reminder that a fast start does not finish a game. South Carolina’s early defense and interior advantage helped create the margin. Maryland’s second-half shooting and pace showed how quickly that margin can shrink when an opponent finds its rhythm.
The opener offered more than a final score
There is no reason for South Carolina to treat one difficult half as a crisis. The Gamecocks won by eight, scored 101 points and showed they can impose their size on a ranked opponent. Their first-half performance offered a glimpse of the ceiling that made them the preseason No. 1.
But Monday also gave Staley useful film. South Carolina will want to see how Maryland’s guards found space, how the Terps turned stops into quick offense and what changed as the lead narrowed. Those are the details that matter when a team has ambitions beyond a season-opening win.
South Carolina leaves Paris 1-0, with a result that looked like a statement and a finish that served as a reminder. The Gamecocks proved they can overwhelm an opponent. Now they have an early example of what happens when they let one back into the game.
Add us as a preferred source on Google