By james art 
Dawn Staley made at least one public declaration before South Carolina played five straight games against ranked teams: She hoped the Gamecocks would use their depth to their advantage down the stretch.
The team did just that against LSU on Friday night.
No. 2 South Carolina (19-1, 7-0 Sec) handed No. 5 LSU (20-1, 5-1 Sec) its first loss of the year, 66-56, thanks in part to its ability to outscore the Tigers.
Kim Mulkey ran nine different players on the floor Friday, but her starters saw the bulk of the playing time. LSU starters are averaging 34 minutes of action a game, led by Aneesah Morrow (38). Only one of LSU’s starters, Sa’myah Smith, played under 30 minutes in the game — just missing the cut at 29 minutes.
“One of the biggest things was to tire them out,” South Carolina guard Bree Hall said. “I think with the kind of team that we have, with a bench that’s so deep, I think going into these games, it’s really important for us to get into the (opponent’s) bench.”
The four who came off the bench for LSU in the game saw a combined 29 minutes of running time. Kailyn Gilbert led the bench with 15 minutes of play. No other Tigers bench player saw more than nine minutes on the court.
While fatigue could have contributed to LSU’s loss, Mulkey credited South Carolina’s ability to stay fresh to the depth of its roster.
“Well, you have 10 McDonald’s Americans. Flip a coin, you can play any of them you want. Gotta keep them happy, right? Mulkey said. “I don’t have that. I have to go with what I have, what I feel in my gut. Fatigue can play a part, but I always tend to give credit to the opponent. The footage we’re missing could have been tired. The shots we’re missing could have been their good defense. “
LSU’s starters saw some success, notably Morrow’s Double-Double: 15 points and 16 rebounds. Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams both had 13 points as well.
Staley said tiring LSU’s starters was “absolutely” part of South Carolina’s game plan.
“Keep pushing the ball down the floor, keep making them work hard for catches,” Staley said. “Yes, we know they play six or seven players and you have to use it against them. They are so talented that if you let them rest on defense, they have more energy to take advantage of you on offense. “
South Carolina entered the game leading the nation with 42.7 bench points per game. The Gamecocks bench typically accounts for 51.7% of their total offense night in and night out.
Joyce Edwards, Tessa Johnson and Milazia Fulvili fuel South Carolina off the bench in the win over LSU.
Edwards scored 14 points and grabbed four rebounds in 18 minutes of action. Fulvili had eight points, three rebounds and three steals in 15 minutes, while Johnson had nine points, three rebounds and three assists in 22 minutes. Together, they outscored LSU’s bench 31-2.
“I always tell our bench, ‘You’re the number one bench in the country,'” Staley said. “… They could go to other places and start, but I have to let them know what they mean to our team.
“We don’t win without the contribution in the first half of Mylaizia Fulviili. She kept going. She would reach the bucket, she would help. And then you come back and Tessa hits the biggest shot of the game. … you got Joyce – Joyce is, I’m going to put it out there, Joyce is going to be the best player in college basketball one day. “
Mulkey said she’s never coached against a team with as much depth as South Carolina’s.
“I’ll call Dawn and tell her to send me some of the ones she doesn’t play,” Mulkey joked. “I don’t think she will.”