- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,265,615
- Reaction score
- 59
Before matching up with Oklahoma in the Sweet 16, South Carolina women’s basketball made it clear this game was not about vengeance.
Even though the No. 4 seed Sooners (26-8) were the only team to beat the No. 1 seed Gamecocks (34-3) in SEC play.
That didn’t stop Madina Okot from having what South Carolina coach Dawn Staley believed was one of her “stronger games just from a mental standpoint” in their lopsided 94-68 win at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, on March 28.
The first time Okot faced Oklahoma on Jan. 22, she totaled just six points, four rebounds and three turnovers. Against the Sooners in the NCAA Tournament, she had nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
“The last time we played Oklahoma, she was on a mental struggle bus,” Staley said of Okot, who transferred from Mississippi State in the offseason. “It was the whole pressure of playing for us and having to perform at a high level for us. She didn't get the points that she probably wanted to get … I like where she is right now. I like the fact that she just wants to win.”
Okot’s performance in the Sweet 16 helped the Gamecocks advance to the Elite Eight for the sixth year in a row, where they will meet No. 3 seed TCU or No. 10 seed Virginia on March 30 (9 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Although Okot finished one point shy of getting her 23rd double-double of the season, she didn’t seem to mind scoring below her 13.5-point average. It helped that Ta’Niya Latson scored 28 points and Raven Johnson poured in an additional 18 points.
“It makes me feel good. It's not too much pressure (on me) when that happens," Okot said of her guards scoring when she's not getting much success inside the paint. "It makes me feel like I don't have to try to do too much. I can get back and play some defense, at least somebody else has me on offense."
Her defense was much needed against Oklahoma and star center Raegan Beers. In the January game, Beers scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. In the Sweet 16, she had 14 points and eight rebounds.
Okot, who is 6-foot-6 patrolled the paint, dominating the boards and helping South Carolina outrebound Oklahoma, the second-best rebounding team in the NCAA, 39-36.
“Okot, another phenomenal player,” Beers said. “Another phenomenal center – physical, tall, obviously, has some length around the basket. Can rebound really well. And I feel like she did that really well tonight.”
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X @tiareid65.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Madina Okot limits Raegan Beers in South Carolina Sweet 16 win
Continue reading...
Even though the No. 4 seed Sooners (26-8) were the only team to beat the No. 1 seed Gamecocks (34-3) in SEC play.
That didn’t stop Madina Okot from having what South Carolina coach Dawn Staley believed was one of her “stronger games just from a mental standpoint” in their lopsided 94-68 win at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, on March 28.
The first time Okot faced Oklahoma on Jan. 22, she totaled just six points, four rebounds and three turnovers. Against the Sooners in the NCAA Tournament, she had nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
“The last time we played Oklahoma, she was on a mental struggle bus,” Staley said of Okot, who transferred from Mississippi State in the offseason. “It was the whole pressure of playing for us and having to perform at a high level for us. She didn't get the points that she probably wanted to get … I like where she is right now. I like the fact that she just wants to win.”
Okot’s performance in the Sweet 16 helped the Gamecocks advance to the Elite Eight for the sixth year in a row, where they will meet No. 3 seed TCU or No. 10 seed Virginia on March 30 (9 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Although Okot finished one point shy of getting her 23rd double-double of the season, she didn’t seem to mind scoring below her 13.5-point average. It helped that Ta’Niya Latson scored 28 points and Raven Johnson poured in an additional 18 points.
“It makes me feel good. It's not too much pressure (on me) when that happens," Okot said of her guards scoring when she's not getting much success inside the paint. "It makes me feel like I don't have to try to do too much. I can get back and play some defense, at least somebody else has me on offense."
Her defense was much needed against Oklahoma and star center Raegan Beers. In the January game, Beers scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. In the Sweet 16, she had 14 points and eight rebounds.
Okot, who is 6-foot-6 patrolled the paint, dominating the boards and helping South Carolina outrebound Oklahoma, the second-best rebounding team in the NCAA, 39-36.
“Okot, another phenomenal player,” Beers said. “Another phenomenal center – physical, tall, obviously, has some length around the basket. Can rebound really well. And I feel like she did that really well tonight.”
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X @tiareid65.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Madina Okot limits Raegan Beers in South Carolina Sweet 16 win
Continue reading...
