South Carolina shellacked Ole Miss this Sunday in a crushing 85-48 win, thanks to one particular Gamecocks star nailing the 3-pointers.
It was something that even their rival head coach, Yolett McPhee-McCuin, couldn't resist complimenting her with something that is nothing short of an anointment.
Madina Okot the star of the game
SC forward Madina Okot was clearly taking the Rebels defense to a woodshed with her 3-pointers. Seeing Okot threading the needle with her threes, Coach Yo knew it was over for the Rebs.
More than her team's shortcoming, she saw a distinctive playing style in Okot that reminded her of the greatest point guard in NBA.
“Yeah, when I saw her start making threes, I was like, sh*t, it’s over for us. I mean, like, it’s one thing to have to battle with her around the basket. When she started looking like Steph Curry, I was like, we might as well pack it up," Coach Yo said in her post-game press conference.
She then credited Dawn Staley for developing her talent to such a level.
"You know, I just think they did a great job developing her confidence. I always thought she was super talented. I remember at Mississippi State, like I was scared straight about her and you know, it makes a difference when you’re around the level-type players she’s around, and when you’re around championship players, like you start to move like that and embody that identity. And I think she’s doing that. She always had all of this skill. You know, it’s just really being brought out because now she’s with some really good players.”
The surprise about Okot’s 3- pointers comes from her limited success beyond the arc up until this year. Last season (her first playing college hoops in the USA), Okot didn’t even attempt a 3-pointer. But this year, she has attempted 15 and has made eight.
That gave Okot two reasons to celebrate the win. Alongside her personal feat, the win made South Carolina women's basketball a lock for the regular season title champion and an almost sure-shot SEC tournament champion.
Ole Miss, on the other hand, is preparing to finish their regular season as a No. 4 seed. They take on Florida next.