The South Carolina Gamecocks cruised to a 96-55 win over Providence Sunday, but the team was missing transfer Ta'Niya Latson for the entire second half of the game after she suffered an apparent lower left leg injury. The exact nature of the injury wasn't immediately clear, though it appeared Latson struggled to put any weight on the foot as she was helped off the court.
The potential injury isn't great news for the Gamecocks, as there is no immediately replacement for Latson if needed, though Coach Dawn Staley kept things light as she addressed the situation during the postgame press conference. Staley told reporters Latson, who went down with the injury after an attempted layup, was "smiling" and received treatment throughout the second half of the game.
Latson has become the team's second-leading scorer this season after transferring to the program from Florida State. She's a reliable presence on the court, and there's not an immediate replacement for her from South Carolina's already-stressed bench.
South Carolina is looking forward to the arrival of a new player
However, the team does have one impending arrival they're looking forward to. Last week the Gamecocks announced the team had signed French pro player Alicia Tournebize, who is set to join the program sometime before classes begin on January 12. Tournebize, who is 6'7", has gained popularity on social media already due to her ability to dunk.
Her arrival is likely to have an immediate impact on the team's performance, especially since South Carolina is performing with a roster of 10 players.
Ta'Niya Latson inspired change at South Carolina
Latson's decision to transfer to South Carolina set off a series of changes for the program, the biggest of which was the departure of MiLaysia Fulwiley (who appears to be thriving at LSU). Latson has since explained a desire to play on a larger stage spurred her decision to trade Florida State for South Carolina.
That reason makes plenty of sense, especially since Staley regularly leads the Gamecocks all the way to the championship game at the Final Four nearly every season.
When it comes to finding a teammate to model herself after, Latson has to look no further than Joyce Edwards. As Staley put it while speaking to Gamecock Central in October, Edwards was also tasked with adjusting to being surrounded by teammates who are also great, which meant she could slow down a little and make adjustments to her own game without bearing the weight of carrying a program on her back.