South Carolina women's basketball downs Alabama to win the SEC

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South Carolina entered its game against Alabama short-handed, but it didn’t matter. The result was the same, a 72-44 Gamecock win. 

Dawn Staley got her 600th career win, and improved to 22-0 all-time against Alabama and South Carolina clinched its eighth SEC regular season championship, second-most in league history.

“If there’s a championship out there we want to win,” Staley said. “If there’s a game, we want to win.”

“Congratulations to Dawn on win number 600. I have such great respect for her and all she’s done for our game and continues to do,” Kristy Curry said. “She cares about everybody in our league being great. I have so much respect. Congratulations to her and congratulations to her team on clinching the SEC championship tonight.”

Starting post Kamilla Cardoso was held out of the game for rest. Cardoso was away from the team for about a week earlier in February to play for her native Brazil in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, a commitment that meant playing three games in four days. That plus the jet lag from travel had Cardoso feeling worn down and sore.

For the first five minutes of the game there was a lid over the basket. South Carolina began the game shooting 1-12, at one point missing six straight layups. Alabama was just as bad, beginning the game 0-9 from the field. 

“They’re so free,” Staley said. “Sometimes it looks great and then other times it’s flat-out wrong.”

South Carolina led 11-6 after the first quarter, but the shots were starting to fall. South Carolina scored the next 19 points of the game, an eight-minute stretch that saw Alabama commit seven turnovers and miss 13 consecutive shots. 

“Credit South Carolina because it was an ugly start for both teams,” Curry said. “We got on our heels there and didn’t recover.”

The Gamecocks led 33-11 at halftime, a season-low for points allowed in a half in an SEC game. South Carolina finished the half making 13-23 shots.

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South Carolina continued to hound Alabama in the second, stretching the lead to as much as 32 despite making just 12-30 layups.

South Carolina shot 38.5% for the game but held Alabama to 22.1%. Alabama was also 3-19 from three. 

South Carolina got a balanced effort to make up for Cardoso’s absence. Chloe Kitts had nine points and seven rebounds.  Ashlyn Watkins filled in as the starter and had 14 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks. 

“I’m just seeing it. I’m seeing the floor better. I’m looking to score. I’m doing good on offense, I’m seeing what my teammates can do,” Watkins said. “I’m just communicating.”

Bree Hall added 13 points and has an SEC Championship every year of her career. 

“It’s a little different this time knowing I am more of a factor to it,” Hall said. “Previous years I wasn’t really that main factor so I didn’t feel like I’m really getting this.”

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Sania Feagin contributed 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench, her first double-figure game in two weeks. Tessa Johnson broke out of a recent shooting slump and contributed 12 points. MiLaysia Fulwiley had nine points. 

“I keep waiting for them to play like they played in the first half – a little rough around the edges, trying to figure out who needs to score, defending pretty good but trying to find out who’s going to be that person or persons that’s going to be able to go get a bucket,” Staley said. “They find a way to only have little glimpses of that throughout a 40-minute period.”

Jessica Timmons led Alabama with 20 points. South Carolina native Loyal McQueen added 15. Leading scorer Sarah Ashlee Barker was held to four points before sitting the final 15:55 with an injury or illness.

“We’re evaluating,” Curry said. “I’m really unsure. We hope she’s okay.”

Teddy Bear Toss. 🧸 A couple of cheerleaders got nailed in the back of the head. They should get to keep a bear. pic.twitter.com/LVlUUplmkR

— Chris Wellbaum (@ChrisWellbaum) February 23, 2024

Notes:

The national anthem was performed on violin by a young lady named Sabrina Patel, a novel approach. …Sakima Walker was the first player off the bench for South Carolina. She went scoreless in 17 minutes. … Raven Johnson also was scoreless, going 0-5 and 0-2 from the line, but she added five rebounds and two assists. … South Carolina committed 15 turnovers. … Alabama wore Black History Month shooting shirts. They had a quote from Maya Angelou on the back. … Dawn Staley’s outfit: Staley wore a black Louis Vuitton jacket. … Announced attendance was 16,229. … South Carolina’s next game is Sunday at Kentucky.

RELATED: South Carolina-Alabama Box Score

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