Cock-A-Doodle Brew 2/26: Open and closed

Today: Leaving a legacy, rubber match, and more.

a:

Good morning. A’ja Wilson has accomplished so much during her time at South Carolina and in the WNBA - and her legacy continues to grow every day.

What else is mixed into today’s Brew? ⤵️

🚪 Open and closed
🏅 On the podium
🤙 And much, much more

🎥 GAMECOCKS+

It’s almost time for a new episode of Changing Expectations! We’re getting ready to drop Chapter 6 later this week, but before we do, make sure you’re caught up on the first five episodes of our inside look at South Carolina men’s basketball.

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Open And Closed. South Carolina baseball claimed the weekend series against Belmont with a 12-1 walk-off victory in Sunday’s rubber match at Founders Park to get to 7-1 to start the season. The Gamecocks came out hot with a six-run first inning, which Kennedy Jones kicked off with his first homer in the Garnet & Black, a 355-foot no-doubter. It was only fitting that the scoring ended the same way it started: with a bomb off a Gamecock bat. Cole Messina’s eighth-inning homer (and second of the day!) walked South Carolina off in style.

🔼 27-0. Te-Hina Paopao lit it up in South Carolina women’s basketball’s 27th straight win, hitting not just back-to-back but back-to-back-to-back threes after halftime. The Gamecocks defeated Kentucky on the road, 103-55, on Sunday afternoon behind Bree Hall’s team-high 18 points. MiLaysia Fulwiley added 17, Ashlyn Watkins posted 15, and Chloe Kitts came in with a double-double with 10 points and 12 boards in the win.

🔼 Winning Sunday. South Carolina softball closed out the Gamecock Invitational in the win column after knocking off Charlotte, 7-2, on Sunday afternoon. South Carolina held the 49ers to just two hits en route to racking up seven runs on six hits. Alana Vawter (4-1) nabbed the victory for the 17th-ranked Gamecocks who climbed to 13-2 on the season. The squad is back on the field on February 28 at 5:00pm ET at home against the College of Charleston.

🔼 On The Podium. Six medals are coming home to Columbia after Gamecock Track & Field closed out the SEC Indoor Championships on Saturday. Freshman superstar JaMeesia Ford earned a gold medal in the 200m with a time of 22.36 before running as the anchor leg for the fastest Gamecock indoor 4×400m relay in program history, securing another gold medal for South Carolina alongside Zaya Akins, Jahnile Registre, and Jayla Jamison.

Judy Kosgei earned the bronze medal in the 800m, while Channing Ferguson nabbed a bronze medal in the men’s high jump. Anass Essayi grabbed silver in the men’s mile, while Dylan Targarrat’s personal best in the men’s shot put was good for another silver medal for the Gamecocks.

🔼 Dove Right In. South Carolina Swimming & Diving wrapped up the SEC Championships this weekend with the women’s team posting its highest finish since 2011! Senior Hayley Mason set a personal record 16:21.37 in the 1650 free, giving her the fifth-fastest time in program history, while a handful of Gamecocks on both the men’s and women’s teams set new personal records during the event.

🔼 Groove Back. Gamecock men’s basketball is back in its groove after a 72-59 road win against Ole Miss over the weekend. After the game, Coach Paris talked about why getting on the flight home with a win with March right around the corner was so critical for his group:

“We’re getting towards the very end of everybody talking about NCAA Tournament, who needs to do this to bolster their resume and all these things,” he said. “To come in here and play well and win like that, I thought it was tremendously important for the confidence of these guys.”

🤔 GAMECOCK TRIVIA

No Scoring Here. Gamecock men’s basketball plays stifling defense. How many opponents have the Gamecocks held under 70 points this season?

Got it? Scroll down to the bottom of this email for the right answer!

📬 STICK WITH US

Did someone send you the Gamecock Brew? The first thing you should do is thank them. Then, hit subscribe below to receive the Brew in your inbox every weekday morning; it goes great with your first cup of coffee.

📬 A LOOK AHEAD

Tuesday 2/27

⚾ Baseball vs. Gardner-Webb @ 4:00pm ET on SEC Network+ | Tickets

Wednesday 2/28

🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Citadel @ 11:00am ET and 4:00pm ET | Live Streaming

🥎 Softball vs. College of Charleston @ 5:00pm ET on SEC Network+ | Tickets

🏀 Men’s Basketball @ Texas A&M @ 8:30pm ET on SEC Network

Thursday 2/29

🏀 Women’s Basketball @ Arkansas @ 9:00pm ET on SEC Network

Friday 3/1

🐎 Equestrian vs. SDSU @ 10:00am ET

🥎 Softball vs. Kennesaw State @ 12:30pm ET (Orlando, FL)

🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. LSU @ 3:00pm ET | Live Streaming

🎾 Women’s Tennis @ Texas A&M @ 6:00pm ET | Live Streaming

🥎 Softball @ UCF @ 6:00pm ET on ESPN+ (Orlando, FL)

⚾ Baseball vs. Clemson @ 7:00pm ET on SEC Network+ | Tickets

Saturday 3/2 - Sunday 3/3

🏊 Swimming & Diving (Swim Only) @ UGA Last Chance Invitational

Saturday 3/2

🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Florida @ 12:00pm ET on ESPN | Tickets

🥎 Softball vs. Bethune-Cookman @ 3:00pm ET (Orlando, FL)

🏖️ Beach Volleyball vs. Chattanooga @ 11:00am ET

⚾ Baseball vs. Clemson @ 4:00pm ET on ACC Network (Segra Park)

🏖️ Beach Volleyball vs. Coastal Carolina @ 5:00pm ET

Sunday 3/3

🥎 Softball vs. Princeton @ 9:00am ET (Orlando, FL)

🏖️ Beach Volleyball vs. UNCW @ 11:00am ET

🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. Tennessee @ 12:00pm ET on ESPN | Tickets

🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Texas A&M @ 12:00pm ET | Live Streaming

🎾 Women’s Tennis @ LSU @ 12:00pm ET | Live Streaming

⚾ Baseball @ Clemson @ 2:00pm ET on ACC Network 

🏖️ Beach Volleyball vs. College of Charleston @ 5:00pm ET

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Gamecock men’s hoops has held 22 opponents under 70 points this season - that’s the best mark in the SEC and tied for third nationally with UConn.

🤙 Have a good Monday, y’all.