South Carolina women's basketball: Gamecocks cruise over Auburn

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Aliyah Boston secured her eighteenth consecutive double-double and the South Carolina women’s basketball team cruised to a 75-38 win over Auburn. 

Over the past couple of weeks, South Carolina had issues closing out big leads. South Carolina let Florida, Kentucky, and Georgia come back in the fourth quarter to at least make the game interesting. With the huge game against Tennessee Sunday, South Carolina wanted to be able to rest the starters against last-place Auburn.

Zia Cooke did the heavy lifting for South Carolina. She scored seven points in the first three minutes, and South Carolina built a quick 9-2 lead. South Carolina steadily pulled away from there and the lead was seven after one quarter, 18 after two, and 29 after three. It would have been more, but South Carolina started 3-11 on layups. Cooke propelled South Carolina with nine of her game-high 20 points in the first quarter and knew from the start it would be a good game.

“I did, honestly,” Cooke said. “When I hit my first couple of shots I was just telling myself to stay the course and stay calm.”

The Gamecocks locked down on defense, holding the Tigers to 29% shooting, holding a 62-25 rebounding edge, and not allowing a single TIger to score in double figures. It was the sixth time this season the Gamecocks held an SEC opponent to 50 points or less, and the second time they held an opponent below 40.

• Game analysis: South Carolina-Auburn

“Their length hindered us just because they’re bigger,” Johnnie Harris said. “They did a good job of guarding us and pressuring the ball. We didn’t have anywhere to go because if go in the paint you had 6-5 waiting on you.”

“Our defense is our separator,” Dawn Staley said. “If we’re efficient shooting the basketball that’s icing on the cake. That’s what really allows us to separate.”

Boston notched her double-double early in the third quarter. She stole a loose ball for her tenth rebound and then floated to an open spot for a three. She grabbed two more rebounds, finishing with 10 points and 12 rebounds in just 20 minutes. 

• Photos: Gamecocks roll past Auburn

“She’s playing like the best player in the country on the best team in the country,” Harris said. “She’s a handful.”

South Carolina was able to rest the starters in the second half. Cooke played 23 minutes, and the other three starters played 21 minutes each. Off the bench, Laeticia Amihere had six points, six rebounds, and three blocks in 11 minutes. Saniya Rivers had a career-high five assists. Sania Feagin had a career-high six rebounds and a couple of impressive blocks. Bree Hall hit a three and grabbed five rebounds. And Destiny Littleton, who had barely played lately due to the emergence of Rivers and Hall, had eight points on a pair of threes. 

“We didn’t really go into the game thinking they were going to play half the game,” Staley said. “Our reserves afforded us an opportunity to rest them a little bit because they are playing so much better.”

South Carolina women’s basketball notes:

Kamilla Cardoso missed Thursday’s game with a lower left leg injury. She had a walking boot on her left foot. Cardoso also missed the last two games while playing for Brazil in the World Cup Qualifying Tournament. … The Gamecock coaching staff wore Black History Month shirts, except for Staley who had shiny black pants and a gray jacket. … Before the game, the Gamecocks recognized Dr. Henrie Monteith Treadwell, the first black student to graduate from South Carolina in the 1960s. … Staley, Lisa Boyer, and video coordinator Hudson Jacobs received rings from USA Basketball in recognition of their contribution to Team USA’s Olympic gold medal. Boyer was a scout and Jacobs was the video coordinator. … Before the game, the Gamecocks recognized Dr. Henrie Monteith Treadwell, the first black student to graduate from South Carolina in the 1960s. … Mar’shaun Bostic missed two free throws to win free chicken for the fans. … Announced attendance was 12,574. … South Carolina’s next game is the home finale against Tennessee on Sunday.