COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley thinks Connecticut's Breanna Stewart is a sublime player and competitor who has transcended the game. Staley would know, having redefined point guard play as the game's best player a quarter-century ago.
Now, it's up to Staley to gameplan against Stewart when the second-ranked Gamecocks (22-0) take on the No. 1 Huskies (22-0) tonight.
"When you have skill, the competitor that's in her, the willingness not to let her team lose, it's incredible," Staley said with awe.
Stewart's been the driving force for UConn in its past three NCAA titles -- and has shown evidence she won't leave college going 4-for-4 in national championships. Stewart tops the Huskies in scoring, rebounding and blocks and is second in assists.
"A'ja Wilson asked me, 'How am I supposed to play her?'" Staley said. "Well, if I had the secret I would give it to every other opponent of UConn. But you've just got to play and make her play both sides of the ball."
Wilson, the 6-foot-5 sophomore, leads the Gamecocks in points and is second in rebounds. She knows Stewart presents her biggest defensive challenge.
"She is so hard to guard," Wilson said. "You've got to prepare for the shot. You've got to prepare for the drive. So you've got to not let her get into her comfort zone."
Stewart is prepared for a dogfight, too, as the teams meet in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown for a second consecutive year. In 2015, second-ranked UConn ended South Carolina's reign at No. 1 with an 87-62 victory.
"South Carolina has a chip on their shoulder from last year when they came here," Stewart said. "They want to redeem themselves in front of all of their home fans."
Former Connecticut standout and ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo said South Carolina's best tactic is going straight at Stewart with post players Wilson and 6-4 Alaina Coates to draw fouls. "You can help yourself if you attack the other team's best player," she said.
Even if Stewart is slowed, Connecticut is filled with skilled, experienced performers in Morgan Tuck, Moriah Jefferson and Gabby Williams all averaging double figure points.
"They're UConn," Staley said with a shrug.
Connecticut Coach Geno Auriemma said all the pressure is on the Gamecocks to win at home in a sold-out, 18,000-seat arena.
"That's just the way of the basketball gods, that's the way they write these stories," Auriemma said Saturday after his team defeated East Carolina 92-46. "The home team is supposed to win. But I'm Italian, I believe in the Roman gods."
South Carolina will have two-time Southeastern Conference player of the year Tiffany Mitchell in the lineup. Mitchell sustained a lower back bruise Thursday night after a hard fall in the second quarter against Kentucky. She did not play in the second half. The Gamecocks will be without senior starter Asia Dozier for a second consecutive game since injuring her right hand last Sunday at Texas A&M.
Sports on 02/08/2016