NEWS » erience, and theyve got a lot of (young) guys with a

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Kaela Davis stepped up to the challenge, as did No. 6 South Carolina in putting away any lingering concerns about its loss last time out.Davis, who started the previous seven games, had six 3-pointers coming off the bench and scored 22 points as the Gamecocks routed Minnesota 98-58 Sunday.South Carolina coach Dawn Staley was concerned about her teams lack of defense in a 74-63 loss at Duke last week and spent practices stressing technique, so much so that she swapped out starters Davis and Bianca Cuevas-Moore for Doniyah Cliney and Tyasha Harris.So when Davis finally got in, she made it count with her second-best scoring performance this season.Obviously, Coach made a decision and whenever that decision is made, its our job to respond, Davis said. Thats what I had to do and that was my purpose.Overall, the Gamecocks (7-1) tightened things up by holding Minnesota (7-4) to under 30 percent shooting.Leading scorer Carlie Wagner, averaging 20 points a game coming in, was just 1-of-12 shooting for a season-low six points.They did a good job of crowding her and not giving her a lot of open looks, Golden Gophers coach Marlene Stollings said.Exactly what Staley had hoped for. She didnt count on the 16 3-pointers -- a high for Staleys nine seasons -- which was one off the program record set against Western Carolina in 1994.Davis, a Georgia Tech transfer, was in the middle of that, too. She hit five of her first six shots from behind the arc as the Gamecocks built a 57-27 halftime lead.Kenisha Bell led Minnesota with 16 points.Alaina Coates had 16 points and 11 rebounds, her fifth double-double of the season and 47th of her career. She also had four of South Carolinas nine blocks.Gray made four 3s and added a team-high seven assists.The Gamecocks used a 15-0 start and an 18-0 run in the second quarter to put it away.BIG PICTUREMinnesota: The Golden Gophers won 20 or more games the past three seasons and won 11 Big Ten Conference games the last two years under Stollings. But those teams featured conference players of the year in Amanda Zahui B. (2015) and Rachel Banham. Minnesota hasnt yet developed the inside game to go along with Wagners scoring and will have to do it with quick -- it starts league play at Ohio State on Dec. 28.South Carolina: Cuevas-Moore played turnover-free as the Gamecocks built a big lead while holding Minnesota to 25 percent (7 of 28) shooting the first two quarters.LETTING IT FLYStaley preaches going inside with 6-foot-5 Aja Wilson and 6-4 Coates underneath. But shes OK with her players taking and making open shots as they did against Minnesota.Were in a groove, were going to take them, she said. Ive never put handcuffs on any of our players as far as shooting the basketball.COLD LIKE MINNESOTAThe Golden Gophers were held to their second-worst shooting performance of the season, making just 18 of 63 shots (28.6 percent). The only poorer showing came in a 70-58 loss to Georgia last month when they shot 27.1 percent. Stollings said her team, which includes nine newcomers, was a bit overwhelmed facing the talented Gamecocks. Stollings said the team will quickly move past this and improve.UP NEXTMinnesota: Home for two games and plays Belmont on Wednesday night.South Carolina: Faces rival Clemson, a surprise undefeated team, on Thursday night. Joe Klecko Jersey . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama. Joe Namath Jersey . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. http://www.cheapnewyorkjetsjerseysauthentic.com/ .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. Wesley Walker Jersey . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. Wayne Chrebet Jersey .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. DETROIT -- Paul Molitor isnt particularly fond of the spoilers role.The Minnesota manager had his team in playoff contention much of last season. This year, the Twins are wallowing in last place in the American League Central.They have an opportunity to diminish the Detroit Tigers drive for a postseason spot during a four-game series this week. Molitor doubts that his team will gain extra motivation from that. Minnesota lost the opener on Monday night, 4-2.Weve talked a little bit over the last few weeks about the spoiler role, he said. Some players might draw upon that somewhat, when youre playing a team thats trying to get in the postseason. The game highlights will probably be shown. Who knows how certain players respond to that?I never really took a lot of pleasure in being someone who wasnt in the race and beat teams that were trying to get in the postseason. Youre going out there and trying to play your best game, regardless of whether its spring training, April, September or the World Series.The Twins (53-91) have been an easy mark for the Tigers this season. Detroit (77-66) is now 11-2 against Minnesota while averaging 5.8 runs per game. Ian Kinsler and Miguel Cabrera had solo homers in Mondays game, helping the Tigers pull within one game of the Baltimore Orioles in the race for the second American League wild card.Theyve swung the bats well against us, Molitor said. (Justin) Upton had a slow start, and hes killed us. Cabrera has always kind of been a Twins killer. Victor (Martinez), J.D. (Martinez) -- they seem to swing the bats well against us. The have a really nice, balanced lineup.Minnesotas lineup was weakenedd Monday by the absence of first baseman Joe Mauer, who is batting a quad injury.dddddddddddd Mauer also missed Sundays game against the Cleveland Indians and will sit out the Tuesday game against Detroit left-hander Matt Boyd.Im going to probably re-evaluate where hes at in terms of getting a start on Wednesday, Molitor said. Well see if 72 hours gives him a little bit of improved health with that leg.Twins third baseman Miguel Sano left the Monday game due to lower back tightness.Minnesota right-hander Kyle Gibson, who lost his only start against Detroit this season, will be on the mound Tuesday. Gibson (5-9, 5.34 ERA) is 3-5 with a 5.44 ERA in 10 career starts against the Tigers.Boyd (5-3, 3.89 ERA) has won both of his starts against Minnesota this season, posting a 2.25 ERA and 14 strikeouts in those outings.Boyd gave up two homers to the Twins on Aug. 24 in a 9-4 Detroit victory.Theyve got some solid bats in that lineup, he said. Theyve got guys with experience, and theyve got a lot of (young) guys with a lot of talent. Ive got to attack the zone, use all four pitches and keep doing what Ive been doing.Keeping his emotions in check in a pivotal game for his team will be a key for the second-year pitcher.Its awesome to be in a race like this, and its awesome to have a chance to start at home in the process of that, he said. Im not taking it for granted, but Ive got to look at it as just another start.The Tigers could be without Upton. He departed the Monday game because of a left calf strain. ' ' '