Title defense by the reigning champs on Monday – University of South Carolina Athletics

4 – South Carolina is ranked No. 1 in both polls this season for the fourth time in the last five seasons.

7 –Seven Gamecocks were on the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Starting 5 watch lists.

The Michigan Series
The Gamecocks and Wolverines have played three times before tonight, with South Carolina winning all three games by an average of 15.7 points. The last meeting took place in December 1995.

Season openings
South Carolina is 14-2 in the season opener under head coach Dawn Staley, with the two losses coming in her first three seasons at the helm. Five of these 16 season opening games took place against ranked opponents.

The Gamecocks open the season with a neutral game for the second straight year. In last season's historic college basketball debut in Paris, #6/4 South Carolina defeated #10/10 Notre Dame 100-71 on November 6th.

Exhibition campaign
For the first time in program history, South Carolina played two exhibition games this season, defeating Memphis 106-63 (October 15) and Clayton State 126-42 (October 28). The Gamecocks shot over 50.0 percent from the field in both cases.

Freshman Joyce Edwards posted a double-double, averaging 19.5 points and 11.5 rebounds, leading the team in both categories.

First watch
Seven Gamecocks were named to the preseason watch lists for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Starting Five, including three who were also named to the Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Women's Player of the Year watch list presented by Axia Time.

Raven Johnson and Te-Hina Paopao were on the lists for both the Naismith Trophy and the Nancy Lieberman Award, which recognizes the best point guard in the country. MiLaysia Fulwiley joined them on the Naismith Trophy list while also appearing on the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award list for the nation's top shooting guards.

Bree Hall was on the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award preseason list along with Fulwiley. Maryam Dauda was among 20 for the Cheryl Miller Award (small forward) and Sania Feagin received a spot on the Katrina McClain Award (power forward) list. Sakima Walker rounded out the position honors with a spot on the Lisa Leslie Award watch list (center), continuing a long line of Gamecocks on the award's watch lists.