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From The Head Coach To The Last Player On The Roster USC Is Confident Heading Into The Sweet 16

The Gamecocks take on the Baylor Bears Saturday afternoon in Greensboro and USC feels like they have nothing to lose.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — It's been a little while since the last time the USC women's basketball team was a true underdog in the NCAA tournament. Come Saturday (4) South Carolina will have to defeat (1) Baylor to advance to the Elite 8.

The Gamecocks are feeling very comfortable and confident heading into their showdown against Baylor.

The last time these teams met the Bears downed the Gamecocks in the CLA for a 25 point win. So where is this confidence coming from for the USC?

"Just how we've been playing. We've been practicing a lot harder and I feel like we're a different team in this NCAA tournament," USC junior forward Kiki Herbert-Harrigan said. "We're a lot more focused on the defensive end and I feel our offense is flowing a lot better." 

Kiki led USC in scoring with 20 points as they defeated Florida State to advance to the Sweet 16. Junior point guard Tyasha Harris has also picked up her play as of late averaging 16 points and just under 5 assists in her last 5 games. She feels USC can just let it loose as opposed to Baylor.

"I think they have more pressure than anything. We can play freely and just try to overcome a big hump and prove people wrong once again."

A win will give USC three straight trips to the Elite 8. That would be another feather in the cap for this program and head coach Dawn Staley but in order to do that Dawn knows her team has to have the right mental approach before and when they step on the court.

"Just because the stage is a little bit bigger doesn't mean you have to change who you are. I think we're in a good mindset to do somethings a bit different and a little bit better."

USC and Baylor tip-off at 2 pm Saturday in the Greensboro Coliseum.

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