COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Angel Reese thought onerous about becoming a member of South Carolina when she was transferring from Maryland final offseason.

If she had, there won’t have been sufficient factors or rebounds for anybody apart from herself or hypothetical teammate Aliyah Boston.

That might’ve labored for Gamecocks coach Daybreak Staley, regardless of who she needed to sit. “There’s at all times room,” Staley stated Friday, “for Angel Reese.”

Reese and Boston, the 2 most dynamic gamers and dependable double-double producers within the Southeastern Convention might be middle stage when the top-ranked Gamecocks (24-0, 11-0 SEC) face Reese’s LSU Tigers (23-0, 11-0) in a Tremendous Bowl Sunday showdown.

Reese, the 6-foot-3 sophomore, has 23 consecutive double-doubles, an SEC file to start out a season.

Boston, at 6-5, is the reigning AP participant of the 12 months and has continued her constant success in her fourth season. She has 76 profession double-doubles, a South Carolina profession file, and 16 in 24 video games this season.

Reese is aware of Sunday’s focus is on her in opposition to Boston. However it ought to be the Tigers in opposition to the Gamecocks.

“Our crew is aware of what we’ve they usually know what they’ve,” Reese stated. “I believe it’s nice for ladies’s basketball general. It’s going to be an important sport.”

LSU with Reese is now in elite standing in coach Kim Mulkey’s second season, with the Tigers proper on the heels of SEC’s present powerhouse crew.

Reese leads the SEC with 23.5 factors and 15.8 rebounds a sport. Boston is second in boards.

“I hope they each declare early” to show professional, Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors stated of Reese and Boston.

The 2 are related forces across the basket, expert of their motion who’re not possible to decelerate, he stated.

“What do you inform a child? Field out? That is not going to do it,” Neighbors stated. “There’s probably not an answer to among the issues that they do.”

Boston’s minutes have decreased as a result of South Carolina has had management of most video games by halftime. She was two rebounds away from her ninth straight double-double in Thursday’s 83-48 win at Auburn. Staley requested if she needed to remain in late to maintain the streak alive, however Boston was content material with the end result and never private targets.

Nonetheless, when it is time to compete, Boston’s prepared: She scored 23 of her 26 factors within the second half of South Carolina’s 81-77 win at No. 5 UConn final Sunday.

Boston has heard what others suppose is at stake on this matchup, together with SEC and nationwide participant of the 12 months awards.

“If that is what they’re taking a look at, I suppose I go away that as much as them,” she stated. “However coming into this sport, I can not have a look at it as ‘Oh, I have to win. I want to do that or that to get nationwide participant of the 12 months,’ as a result of in actuality that is not the most important purpose. The most important … is the nationwide championship.”

Reese is understood for her sport and her sense of trend — lengthy eyelashes, painted nails. She has embraced her nickname, “Bayou Barbie” to the purpose that she’s utilized to have it trademarked and intends to provide merchandise.

Reese’s NIL analysis is value $258,000, in accordance with On3.com’s tracker. That’s about $150,000 greater than Boston.

Across the holidays, Reese persuaded one in every of her high sponsors, purse firm Coach, to offer baggage which retail for about $500 to every of her teammates. She needed them to learn from her monetary success.

“I can’t do that with out them,” she stated. “I really feel like I’ve grown my platform right here at LSU and with out my teammates and my coaches, I wouldn’t have the ability to do that.”

ESPN analyst Debbie Antonelli thinks Staley and her No. 1 protection will look to finish Reese’s double-double streak in entrance a sold-out enviornment Sunday.

“It’ll be enjoyable to look at,” she stated.

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AP Sports activities Author Brett Martel contributed to this report from Baton Rouge, Louisiana

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AP girls’s faculty basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

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