Ahead of No. 8 Duke women’s basketball’s matchup against No. 3 South Carolina on the road, The Chronicle previews the game with an overview, key stat, X-Factor and three keys:
2023-2024 record: 38-0, 16-0 in the SEC
2024-2025 record: 7-1
Head coach: Dawn Staley
Series history: South Carolina leads 7-2
Last meeting: 77-61 South Carolina, Dec. 3, 2023
Just over a week ago, South Carolina’s 43-game winning streak was ended by a 77-62 rout by UCLA. Since the 2021-22 season, the Gamecocks have lost only four games and have picked up two NCAA titles along the way. Led by 25-year veteran head coach Dawn Staley, South Carolina is undeniably a titan of women’s basketball.
Duke has only ever beaten the Gamecocks twice in program history, with the most recent being in the 2016-17 season, but the Blue Devils may stand a chance this year with an early loss and roster change from South Carolina.
With the departure of 6-foot-7 center Kamilla Cardoso, the Gamecocks have lost an integral member of the team. Cardoso helped win both the 2021-22 and 2023-24 NCAA titles. However, with the exception of the loss to the Bruins, the Gamecocks have seamlessly adapted to a new lineup. They dominated in a match against ranked Iowa State with a 76-36 victory against the Cyclones, including a 32-0 run in the first half.
South Carolina has added freshman Joyce Edwards to its line up. The forward was a five-star recruit and South Carolina Gatorade Player of the year who has had a strong start to her season. The Camden, S.C., native has averaged 9.8 points, 2.6 turnovers and 6.1 rebounds per game.
Although some touted that the UCLA loss marked the beginning of South Carolina’s downfall, the contest seems to be having the opposite effect. An early season loss helped Staley and the Gamecock squad realize that they could not ride their winning streak forever or become complacent with their spot at the top of the rankings. Known for her discipline, Staley has appeared to light a fire under South Carolina, with the team notching 40-point wins at both matches after the Bruins. -Kate Reiniche
