The #6 South Carolina Gamecocks host Alabama at Colonial Life Arena in the first game of SEC play. In her third season in Tuscaloosa, head coach Kristy Curry has Alabama off to their best start in years with a 12-1 record.
Game Start: 2 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena.
Watch: ESPN2.
Stream: WatchESPN.
Radio: 107.5 The Game.
Three Point Preview:
- South Carolina will be well rested having not played since Dec. 21 against Savannah State. The Gamecocks have dominated the series against the Crimson Tide recently. Carolina has won 12 straight meetings with the Tide’s last win coming in 2008. Last season they met in Tuscaloosa and the Gamecocks won 66-46.
- The Gamecocks head into the SEC season with three straight conference championships. If Carolina can capture the crown this year, they will join Tennessee as the only programs to win four straight SEC championships. The league looks like it will be as tough as ever this year, especially with Alabama joining the ranks as a possible tournament team. Heading into league play, 10 of the 14 teams have won at least 10 games on the season.
- Alabama has earned their record with excellence on the defensive end. The Tide enter the contest ranked 12th in the nation in scoring defense, giving up 52.5 points per game. That is also good enough for second in the SEC, trailing only Ole Miss. The defense is led by freshman Ashley Knight. Knight leads the SEC in blocks per game, averaging 2.6. Guard Meoshonti Knight leads the Tide in scoring, averaging 13.2 points per game. Guards Hannah Cook, Shaquera Wade, and Jordan Lewis are all averaging double figures on the season.