Staley hopeful injured guard Cooper can return to Gamecocks

Staley hopeful injured guard Cooper can return to Gamecocks

Published Feb. 22, 2019 7:22 p.m. ET

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina coach Dawn Staley was hopeful that injured scoring leader Te'a Cooper would play against Tennessee on Sunday.

Cooper sprained her ankle early in No. 13 South Carolina's 65-57 loss to No. 16 Kentucky on Thursday night. Staley said Friday it was nothing more serious than a sprain and that the guard was walking around comfortably at practice.

Cooper, who tops South Carolina with 12.2 points a game, told Staley she wanted to play. That may be because Cooper began her career with the Lady Vols and made the all-Southeastern Conference freshman team in 2016 before transferring to the Gamecocks.

Staley said Cooper was in "a lot better position than she was yesterday" to return to the lineup.

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Cooper has started 24 games for South Carolina (19-7, 11-2).

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