As natural competitors, they welcomed the challenge. Two of the freshmen — Taj Roberts, who recently won her fourth ACC Rookie of the Week honor, and Mackenly Randolph — opened the season as starters.

There is a deep history between these SEC programs, and though Georgia leads the series 33-25 dating back to 1976, South Carolina has not allowed them to win a game, regardless of location, since January 2013.

Georgia women's basketball will welcome No. 2 South Carolina to town Thursday as SEC play continues its February slate. The Gamecocks (21-1) enter this game on a 16-game win streak, with nine of those wins coming in conference play.