“I don’t think you believe”: Dawn Staley reveals Chloe Kitts conversation in practice before career night vs Duke.

South Carolina star Chloe Kitts (left) and coach Dawn Staley (right) | Image sources: Instagram page of Chloe Kitts (@chloe.kitts) and South Carolina Women’s Basketball (@gamecockwbb)

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley discussed Chloe Kitts’ key practice moment before her breakout game against Duke on Thursday night. Kitts shined in the No. 3 Gamecocks’ 81-70 home win over the No. 8 Blue Devils in an SEC/ACC Challenge matchup.

In the victory, the 6-foot-2 Kitts filled the stat sheet, matching her career-high with 21 points, along with 11 rebounds, two steals and two blocks. The Gamecocks secured the 11-point victory at home, marking their 62nd consecutive home win.

In a postgame interview with Nicole Briscoe on ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” Staley highlighted Kitts’ impactful showing.

“She was due the last couple of games,” Staley said. “She got off to a good start, but it wasn’t consistent throughout the game. We needed her tonight, and she came through.”

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Staley also reflected on a recent conversation with Kitts during a practice session.

“I mean, she’s been wanting us to believe in her, and I’m telling her, ‘We do believe in you, we do,’” Staley said. “We just had that conversation yesterday after practice. She was like, ‘I don’t think you believe.’ That’s not the question at all, and she comes out and proves herself time and time again.”

Kitts had struggled in recent games, posting just four and six points in wins over Clemson and Iowa State, respectively. Her performance in the 77-62 loss to No. 5 UCLA was particularly challenging, with only two points on 1-of-7 shooting, seven rebounds and two steals in 12 minutes.

However, she is finding her rhythm again. Kitts delivered 12 points and six rebounds on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting in South Carolina’s 99-51 win over Purdue on Nov. 30. Her performance against Duke marked her third double-double of the season and the ninth of her career with South Carolina.

The Gamecocks’ home winning streak, which began in December 2020 after their last loss at Colonial Life Arena to NC State, remains intact. Up next, South Carolina faces another top-10 opponent, No. 9 TCU, on Sunday at the Hoopfest Women’s Basketball Classic.

Gamecocks Secure Third Straight Win

After a tough loss to No. 1 UCLA on Nov. 24, South Carolina is regaining its form, notching its third consecutive victory, including two against ranked opponents.

The Gamecocks dazzled the 15,677 fans at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia with an impressive first-half performance, shooting 60.6% (20-of-33) from the field. They built a lead as large as 25 points, heading into halftime with a commanding 51-31 advantage.

Duke made a determined push, cutting the deficit to 71-63 with 6:10 remaining. However, South Carolina responded with a 10-7 run to close out the contest. Chloe Kitts contributed a critical inside basket and a three-point play to restore the double-digit margin and seal the win.

A team effort ensured the Gamecocks remained undefeated at home with a 3-0 record. Sania Feagin recorded 11 points on 3-of-3 shooting and 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. Te-Hina Paopao also added 11 points while Joyce Edwards provided a spark off the bench, scoring all eight of her points during a dominant second quarter in just six minutes of play.

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