South Carolina women's basketball: Fourth quarter offensive explosion leads rout
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South Carolina trailed by as much as ten in the first half before pulling away for a 95-66 win at Kentucky.
Behind Raven Johnson early in the fourth quarter, South Carolina quickly turned a close game into a blowout. Up nine, Johnson found Aliyah Boston for a layup, stole a pass, and hit Bree Hall for a transition layup. That sparked an 18-2 run as South Carolina ran Kentucky off the court.
South Carolina scored 36 points in the fourth quarter, blowing past its previous season-high of 30 points in a quarter. South Carolina shot 13-17 (76.5%) in the fourth quarter and rebounded all four misses. The Gamecocks had 13 points off eight turnovers, scored 24 points in the paint, made 10-13 free throws, and had eight fast break points. Nine different players scored in the fourth quarter alone.
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The fourth quarter overshadowed South Carolina’s offensive output for the entire game. The Gamecocks shot 63.6%, a season-high, scored 58 points in the second half, also a season-high, on 70.4% shooting, and made a season-high 23 free throws.
South Carolina has been plagued by slow scoring starts on the road this season, but the Gamecocks had no problem Thursday. They hit four of their first five shots and scored 20 first-quarter points on 64.3% shooting.
But they forgot to play defense.
Kentucky also shot over 50% and the Wildcats went on a 16-0 run spanning the first and second quarters. They led 31-21 midway through the second quarter, with Jada Walker and Maddie Sherr combining for 28 points.
South Carolina answered with a 16-0 run of its own. Zia Cooke scored 10 points during the run, including seven straight. Raven Johnson also made an impact with four points, two assists, and two steals during the run.
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South Carolina gave Sherr the Rhyne Howard treatment in the second half, using Brea Beal to attack Sherr defensively. South Carolina took advantage of its size, blocking four shots in the third quarter, and led by eight after three quarters, tying its largest lead of the game.
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The final stats made it look like a typical blowout, not the back-and-forth game it was for three quarters. Boston looked like the best player in the country, notching a season-high 21 points to go with 11 rebounds, four blocks, and three assists. Cooke had another 20-point game. Kamilla Cardoso added 12 points and Laeticia Amihere had 11.
Johnson might have stolen the show, however. Coming off the best game of her career against Mississippi State, Johnson was even better against Kentucky. She had nine points and seven assists, tying her career-highs for both. Johnson also had three steals, and she didn’t miss a shot while turning the ball over just once.
Sherr finished with 25 points, six assists, and four rebounds. Walker had 17 points, but only four in the second half.
Notes:
South Carolina had not trailed by double digits since trailing UCLA by 10. South Carolina’s largest deficit of the season was 12, against Stanford. … South Carolina blocked 11 shots. … South Carolina outrebounded Kentucky 35-29. … Former Gamecock Eniya Russell played four minutes and two points. … The Gamecocks won the turnover battle by one and had five more points off turnovers. … Robyn Benton had 10 points. …Aliyah Boston braids report: Boston continued to wear her red and green braids. … Dawn Staley fit report: Staley wore a black pullover. … Announced attendance was 4,016. … South Carolina’s next game is Sunday against Missouri.
