2020–21 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team

The 2020–21 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team represented the University of South Carolina during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Gamecocks, led by thirteenth-year head coach Dawn Staley, played their home games at Colonial Life Arena and competed as members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They finished the season 26–5 (14–2 SEC), won the SEC Tournament, and won a bid to the NCAA Tournament where they advanced to the Final Four and lost to Stanford.

2020–21 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball
SEC Tournament champions
NCAA Tournament, Final Four
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 4
APNo. 6
2020–21 record26–5 (14–2 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaColonial Life Arena
2020–21 SEC women's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 4 Texas A&M13–1 .92925–3  .893
No. 6 South Carolina †14–2 .87526–5  .839
No. 13 Tennessee9–4 .69217–8  .680
No. 10 Georgia10–5 .66720–6  .769
No. 15 Arkansas9–6 .60019–8  .704
No. 18 Kentucky9–6 .60018–8  .692
Alabama8–8 .50016–9  .640
LSU6–8 .4299–13  .409
Mississippi State5–7 .41710–9  .526
Missouri5–9 .3579–13  .409
Ole Miss4–10 .28615–12  .556
Florida3–11 .21412–14  .462
Auburn0–15 .0005–19  .208
Vanderbilt0–3 .0004–4  .500
Vanderbilt suspended their season on January 18, 2021
† 2021 SEC Tournament winner
As of March 21, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

The Gamecocks finished the season with a 32–1 overall record and a 16–0 record in conference play. The Gamecocks won the SEC Tournament. The Gamecocks therefore received an automatic bid to the 2020 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament, however the tournament was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and were de facto named mythical national championship by finishing first in the major wire service polls, the AP Poll and Coaches Poll. On December 31, 2020, the program raised a banner to recognise the claim.

Offseason

Departures
South Carolina Departures
Name Number Pos. Height Year Hometown Notes
Mikiah Herbert Harrigan21F6'2"SeniorPembroke Pines, FLGraduated; Drafted sixth overall by the Minnesota Lynx.
Tyasha Harris52G5'10"SeniorNoblesville, INGraduated; Drafted seventh overall by the Dallas Wings.

2020 recruiting class
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Eniya Russell
PG		 Baltimore, MD St. Vincent Pallotti High School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) N/A  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 96
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:


    Preseason

    SEC media poll

    The SEC media poll was released on November 17, 2020 with the Gamecocks selected to finish in first place in the SEC.[1]

    Media poll
    Predicted finish Team
    1South Carolina
    2Kentucky
    3Texas A&M
    4Arkansas
    5Mississippi State
    6Tennessee
    7LSU
    8Alabama
    9Georgia
    10Missouri
    11Ole Miss
    12Florida
    13Vanderbilt
    14Auburn

    Preseason All-SEC teams

    The Gamecocks had two players selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.

    Roster
    2020–21 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G 0 Olivia Thompson 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) SoLexington HS Lexington, SC
    G 1 Zia Cooke 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) SoRogers HS Toledo, OH
    G 2 Eniya Russell 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) FrSt. Vincent Pallotti HS Baltimore, MD
    G 3 Destanni Henderson 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) JrFort Myers HS Fort Myers, FL
    F 4 Aliyah Boston 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) SoWorcester (Mass.) Academy Saint Thomas, USVI
    F 5 Victaria Saxton 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) JrModel Rome, GA
    G 11 Destiny Littleton 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) RS JrThe Bishop's School
    Texas    		 San Diego, CA
    G 12 Brea Beal 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) SoRock Island HS Rock Island, IL
    F 15 Laeticia Amihere 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) SoKings Way Christian Mississauga, ON
    G 24 Lele Grissett 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) SrHillside HS Durham, NC
    F 32 Elysa Wesolek 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) JrNorthwood Academy Charleston, SC
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Schedule
    Date
    time, TV    		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Regular season
    November 25, 2020*
    Noon, SECN+    		 No. 1 College of Charleston W 119–38  1–0
    		  19 – Saxton  12 – Tied  4 – Henderson  Colonial Life Arena (3,500)
    Columbia, SC
    November 28, 2020*
    3:30 pm    		 No. 1 vs. South Dakota
    Crossover Classic    		 W 81–71  2–0
    		  19 – Tied  9 – Tied  4 – Boston  Sanford Pentagon 
    Sioux Falls, SD
    November 29, 2020*
    3:30 pm    		 No. 1 vs. Oklahoma
    Crossover Classic    		 Canceled due to COVID-19 Sanford Pentagon 
    Sioux Falls, SD
    November 29, 2020*
    3:30 pm    		 No. 1 vs. No. 21 Gonzaga
    Crossover Classic    		 W 79–72  3–0
    		  23 – Henderson  7 – Beal  4 – Cooke  Sanford Pentagon 
    Sioux Falls, SD
    December 3, 2020*
    7:00 pm, ESPN2    		 No. 1 No. 8 NC State
    Jimmy V Classic    		 L 46–54  3–1
    		  11 – Tied  15 – Amihere  6 – Henderson  Colonial Life Arena (3,500)
    Columbia, SC
    December 6, 2020*
    12:00 pm, ESPNU    		 No. 1 at No. 23 Iowa State
    Big 12/SEC Women's Challenge    		 W 83–65  4–1
    		  19 – Cooke  15 – Boston  7 – Henderson  Hilton Coliseum (864)
    Ames, IA
    December 17, 2020*
    8:00 pm    		 No. 5 Temple W 103–41  5–1
    		  23 – Cooke  9 – Boston  7 – Henderson  Colonial Life Arena 
    Columbia, SC
    December 31, 2021
    		 No. 5 Florida W 75–59  6–1
    (1–0)    		  28 – Boston  16 – Boston  5 – Henderson  Colonial Life Arena 
    Columbia, SC
    January 4, 2021
    5:00 pm    		 No. 5 at Alabama W 77–60  7–1
    (2–0)    		  20 – Henderson  10 – Tied  5 – Henderson  Coleman Coliseum 
    Tuscaloosa, AL
    January 10, 2021
    		 No. 5 at No. 10 Kentucky W 75–70  8–1
    (3–0)    		  22 – Henderson  12 – Boston  3 – Henderson  Memorial Coliseum 
    Lexington, KY
    January 14, 2021
    8:00 pm    		 No. 5 at Vanderbilt W 106–43  9–1
    (4–0)    		  20 – Saxton  12 – Grissett  9 – Henderson  Memorial Gymnasium 
    Nashville, TN
    January 18, 2021
    7:00 pm, ESPN2    		 No. 4 No. 17 Arkansas W 104–82  10–1
    (5–0)    		  26 – Boston  16 – Boston  10 – Henderson  Colonial Life Arena 
    Columbia, SC
    January 21, 2021
    6:30 pm, SECN    		 No. 4 No. 22 Georgia W 62–50  11–1
    (6–0)    		  16 – Tied  11 – Tied  3 – Henderson  Colonial Life Arena 
    Columbia, SC
    January 24, 2021
    1:00 pm, SECN    		 No. 4 at LSU W 69–65  12–1
    (7–0)    		  20 – Boston  14 – Boston  8 – Henderson  Pete Maravich Assembly Center 
    Baton Rouge, LA
    January 28, 2021
    7:00 pm, ESPN    		 No. 4 at No. 21 Mississippi State W 75–52  13–1
    (8–0)    		  19 – Cooke  12 – Boston  3 – Cooke  Humphrey Coliseum 
    Starkville, MS
    January 31, 2021
    3:00 pm, SECN    		 No. 4 Alabama W 87–63  14–1
    (9–0)    		  21 – Cooke  13 – Boston  6 – Henderson  Colonial Life Arena 
    Columbia, SC
    February 4, 2021
    7:00 pm, SECN+    		 No. 2 at Auburn W 77–58  15–1
    (10–0)    		  17 – Cooke  9 – Amihere  9 – Henderson  Auburn Arena 
    Auburn, AL
    February 8, 2021*
    7:00 pm, FS1    		 No. 1 at No. 2 UConn L 59–63 OT 15–2
    		  17 – Boston  15 – Boston  3 – Tied  Harry A. Gampel Pavilion 
    Storrs, CT
    February 11, 2021
    7:00 pm, SECN    		 No. 1 Missouri W 77–62  16–2
    (11–0)    		  15 – Cooke  12 – Boston  3 – Tied  Colonial Life Arena 
    Columbia, SC
    February 14, 2021
    Noon, SECN    		 No. 1 LSU W 66–59  17–2
    (12–0)    		  19 – Henderson  13 – Boston  4 – Cooke  Colonial Life Arena (3,500)
    Columbia, SC
    February 18, 2021
    7:00 pm, SECN    		 No. 2 at No. 21 Tennessee L 67–75  17–3
    (12–1)    		  17 – Boston  16 – Boston  6 – Henderson  Thompson–Boling Arena (2,512)
    Knoxville, TN
    February 21, 2021
    3:00 pm, ESPN    		 No. 2 No. 17 Kentucky W 76–55  18–3
    (13–1)    		  21 – Cooke  13 – Amihere  3 – Boston  Colonial Life Arena 
    Columbia, SC
    February 25, 2021
    1:00 pm, SECN    		 No. 5 Ole Miss W 68–43  19–3
    (14–1)    		  17 – Cooke  11 – Boston  4 – Henderson  Colonial Life Arena 
    Columbia, SC
    February 28, 2021
    2:00 pm, ESPN2    		 No. 5 at No. 3 Texas A&M L 57–65  19–4
    (14–2)    		  15 – Tied  11 – Boston  6 – Henderson  Reed Arena 
    College Station, TX
    SEC Tournament
    March 5, 2021
    5:00 pm, SECN    		 (2) No. 7 vs. (7) Alabama
    Quarterfinals    		 W 75–63  20–4
    		  22 – Cooke  13 – Boston  5 – Henderson  Bon Secours Wellness Arena 
    Greenville, SC
    March 6, 2021
    8:30 pm, ESPNU    		 (2) No. 7 vs. (3) No. 13 Tennessee
    Semifinals    		 W 67–52  21–4
    		  22 – Cooke  13 – Boston  5 – Henderson  Bon Secours Wellness Arena (2,662)
    Greenville, SC
    March 7, 2021
    2:00 pm, ESPN2    		 (2) No. 7 vs. (4) No. 16 Georgia
    Championship    		 W 67–62  22–4
    		  27 – Boston  10 – Boston  3 – Henderson  Bon Secours Wellness Arena 
    Greenville, SC
    NCAA Tournament
    March 21, 2021*
    6:00 pm, ESPN    		 (1 H) No. 6 vs. (16 H) Mercer
    First Round    		 W 79–53  23–4
    		  20 – Tied  18 – Boston  4 – Henderson  Alamodome 
    San Antonio, TX
    March 23, 2021*
    7:00 pm, ESPN    		 (1 H) No. 6 vs. (8 H) Oregon State
    Second Round    		 W 59–42  24–4
    		  19 – Boston  11 – Beal  2 – Tied  Alamodome 
    San Antonio, TX
    March 27, 2021*
    1:00 pm, ABC    		 (1 H) No. 6 vs. (5 H) Georgia Tech
    Sweet Sixteen    		 W 76–65  25–4
    		  17 – Cooke  7 – Amihere  7 – Henderson  Alamodome 
    San Antonio, TX
    March 30, 2021*
    7:00 pm, ESPN    		 (1 H) No. 6 vs. (6 H) Texas
    Elite Eight    		 W 62–34  26–4
    		  16 – Cooke  8 – Tied  7 – Henderson  Alamodome 
    San Antonio, TX
    April 2, 2021*
    6:00 pm, ESPN    		 (1 H) No. 6 vs. (1 A) Stanford
    Final Four    		 L 65–66  26–5
    		  25 – Cooke  16 – Boston  3 – Henderson  Alamodome 
    San Antonio, TX
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. H=HemisFair A=Alamo.
    All times are in Eastern Time.
    [2]

    See also

    References
    1. "Gamecocks tabbed as 2021 SEC Women's Basketball champs".
    2. "Gamecocks Release Women's Hoops Non-Conference Schedule". GamecocksOnline.com. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
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