The last time N.C. State (4-2) and South Carolina (4-2) met, the Wolfpack came away with a 75-48 win against the Gamecocks at the Colonial Center in Columbia, S.C., on Dec. 16, 2004.
That season, South Carolina finished with an 8-21 record and only two wins during SEC conference play.
Senior forward Sasha Reaves said she remembered the 2004 game fairly vividly.
“Last time we played them was my sophomore year,” Reaves said. “We did pretty well against them last time.”
One year later during the 2005-2006 season, the Gamecocks finished 17-12. And now with what Wolfpack associate head coach Stephanie Glance said is pretty much the same squad from 2004, South Carolina brings a team whose four wins have all been by at least 25 points, including a 32-point win against Clemson.
According to Glance, the interim coach while Kay Yow takes a leave of absence because progression of breast cancer, the Gamecocks are now a veteran squad.
“They pretty much have the same team back, they were young then,” Glance said. “So we’re familiar with their personnel and what they like to do.”
Through six games this season, the Gamecocks have 13 players that are averaging at least four minutes per game and 11 players who play double-digit minutes. No player averages more than 27 minutes a game.
“They play a lot of people a lot of minutes,” Glance said. “They’ll have a lot of different combinations on the floor.”
Playing time isn’t the only balanced aspect of the team. Senior forward Iva Sliskovic leads the team in scoring with only 11 points per game. Senior Melanie Johnson and freshman Kellindra Zackery are next with 10 points per game.
Demetress Adams, a 6-foot-4 sophomore forward, leads the team in blocks and rebounds with nine blocks on the season and 7.5 rebounds per game. She is fourth on the team with nine points per game.
Because Reaves is from Mullins, S.C., and played AAU basketball with some members of the South Carolina team, she said she hopes to be able to give her team some insight on its opponent.
“I know a good little bit about some of the players because we are from the same state and we played on the same AAU team,” Reaves said. “I know a good little bit.”
The game will be the Pack’s first since its West Coast road trip during Thanksgiving break. State lost to Arizona 68-66 in overtime Friday and followed that up with a 64-55 win against UC Santa Barbara on Sunday.
While Reaves said “it was a good trip” despite the loss against Arizona, Glance said the two games could serve as beneficial preparation for tonight’s match-up.
“There is a lot we can take into this game,” Glance said. “The second half of the [UC] Santa Barbara game was a really good half for us. Hopefully, we can take that and build on it going into this game.”
As for what the team plans to focus on in its rematch against South Carolina, Glance said she hopes the team continues to get positive play on the boards and for it to get penetration into the Gamecocks’ defense.
“We have a few things we’re going to change up on them defensively,” Glance said. “But basically we’re going to work on our own stuff. Our penetration has been working really well for us and offensive rebounds, so that will continue to be in focus.”
The Pack holds a 16-8 overall record against the Gamecocks including a 6-3 home record.
