Photos: South Carolina reigns supreme

South Carolina completed its undefeated regular season Sunday with a 73-63 win over the Georgia Bulldogs.

Aliyah Boston led the Gamecocks with 25 points and 11 rebounds, while Kamilla Cardoso also recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Zia Cooke chipped in with 12 points.

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South Carolina held off resilient Georgia to win 73-63 and complete the program’s first undefeated regular season.

The day began with South Carolina honoring its seniors and it ended with an SEC championship trophy and golden confetti celebrating more history. 

The 2019 class of Aliyah Boston, Zia Cooke, Brea Beal, Laeticia Amihere, and Olivia Thompson finished the way it began, with an undefeated conference season. The group lost just three SEC games in four years, just one home game, and went 122-8 overall. 

“They were joined at the heart,” Dawn Staley said. “They came in knowing what they wanted to do and they stuck it out. Good, bad, or indifferent.”

They finished by becoming only the tenth team in NCAA history to go undefeated in the regular season.

“It’s super special,” Cooke said. “Coach said in the locker room for us to enjoy this moment. Sometimes we have a hard time enjoying moments, we move on to the next thing.”

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It wasn’t easy to get there. The Gamecocks led most of the game and by double figures for most of the second half, but they could never shake the Lady Bulldogs. 

Missed free throws were South Carolina’s main kryptonite. The Gamecocks shot just 19-31 from the line. Laeticia Amihere was a dismal 0-7.

South Carolina also had no answer for Georgia’s Diamond Battles. She scored 20 points and went 8-8 from the line.

But in the end, South Carolina’s size and strength won out like it has all season. Dubious officiating was the only thing that could slow down Boston, who finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks. She moved into a tie with Sylvia Fowles for the second-most double-doubles in SEC history (78).

“Coach emphasized getting the ball inside and trying to score, get paint points” Boston said. “I was trying to make sure I was demanding the ball, even if I didn’t (score) I could make a pass out.”

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Kamilla Cardoso also finished with a double-double, notching 13 points and 10 rebounds. She helped South Carolina outrebound Georgia 47-25 and outscore the Bulldogs 42-24 in the paint. 

Now South Carolina looks ahead to the postseason. There is no relief from the regular season.

“Definitely no relief,” Boston said. “Now we’re into the season where winning is the only option.”

Notes:

The 2019 class plus super seniors Victaria Saxton and Kierra Fletcher were honored before the game. … Practice squad players and graduate assistants were honored after the game. … Both coaches were unhappy with the officiating. At halftime both coaches found an official to yell at. Katie Abrahamson-Henderson followed her official into South Carolina’s tunnel before being turned around. She walked back to the Georgia tunnel with a mock wave to the fans. … South Carolina was minus-two in turnovers, and minus-six in points off. … Aliyah Boston braids report: Boston stuck with red braids with pink highlights. … Dawn Staley fit report: Staley wore a silver-studded black Gucci hoodie. … Announced attendance was 18,000. It was South Carolina’s second sellout of the season and completed the ninth consecutive season leading the nation in attendance. … South Carolina’s next game is Friday in the SEC Tournament. They will play the winner of the 8/9 game between Arkansas and Missouri.

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