Ladies’s school basketball is formally again after an exhilarating 2023-24 season.
Whereas star gamers Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have departed for the WNBA, there are a number of abilities on show within the girls’s sport.
After a loaded opening day slate on Monday, listed below are three takeaways from the most important video games of the day.
No. 1 South Carolina overcomes poor taking pictures efficiency
On an evening that Daybreak Staley’s Gamecocks didn’t shoot the ball properly, No. 1 South Carolina discovered a technique to get previous a pesky Michigan staff in Las Vegas. Led by junior ahead Chloe Kitts’ 19 factors and 14 rebounds, the Gamecocks overcame a gradual begin and outscored the Wolverines, 31-24, within the second half.
The defending champions might want to enhance on their 33% taking pictures and 19% from behind the arc going ahead. With a loaded nonconference slate that continues with No. 9 NC State on Sunday, in addition to No. 5 UCLA, eighth-ranked Iowa State, No. 11 Duke and a showdown with Paige Bueckers and No. 2 UConn on Feb. 16, South Carolina will must be extra environment friendly from the ground than they have been on opening night time.
JuJu Watkins, No. 3 USC survive towards Twentieth-ranked Ole Miss
Within the first marquee sport of the season, USC and Ole Miss squared off in a high 20 showdown in Paris. Regardless of blowing a 37-26 halftime lead, the Trojans have been capable of dangle on and get the victory. Watkins led all scorers with 27 factors and added 10 rebounds whereas Stanford switch Kiki Iriafen posted 22 factors and 13 rebounds.
Simply 1-11 from three-point vary, USC might want to discover a technique to make extra long-distance pictures going ahead. With a giant matchup looming towards No. 6 Notre Dame on Nov. 23 and a highway contest at No. 2 UConn simply earlier than Christmas, the Trojans will get examined, particularly if their lack of ability to make three-point pictures continues.
No. 5 UCLA outlasts Seventeenth-ranked Louisville in high 25 matchup
Within the second sport from Paris, the Bruins used their protection, permitting solely 32% taking pictures, and the balanced effort from heart Lauren Betts, who posted an 18 level, 13 rebound double-double. Whereas the Bruins solely shot 41.3%, junior ahead Timea Gardiner contributed 15 factors and made 5 of her seven three-point makes an attempt so as to add to the Bruins manufacturing. Regardless of freshman guard Tajianna Roberts scoring 21 factors for the Cardinals, Louisville was unable to place collectively a run down the stretch.
The subsequent large check for UCLA comes on Nov. 24 once they face No. 1 South Carolina. If the Bruins can maintain their defensive prowess and keep a stability on offense, they may pose a risk to the highest staff within the nation and problem for a convention title of their first season within the Large Ten.