South Carolina women's basketball: Aliyah Boston, Gamecock post players lead win over Kentucky
South Carolina Women’s Basketball: News • Recruiting • Schedule • Roster • Stats • SEC • Polls • Scholarships
South Carolina controlled the paint and got big contributions from the bench in an 87-69 win over Kentucky.
Aliyah Boston and Kamilla Cardoso led South Carolina with 14 points each Boston also had 14 rebounds and three blocks, for her seventh consecutive double-double and 14th of the season.
Boston and Cardoso helped South Carolina score 62 points in the paint and block 14 shots. Cardoso led a bench effort that scored 48 points and grabbed 21 rebounds.
South Carolina fell behind by as much as ten in the first meeting between the two teams. Kentucky never had that much success Thursday, but the Wildcats did lead 16-15 late in the first quarter. When the teams substituted, it became all South Carolina.
“They are pretty good with the basketball. They don’t show their hand. They’ve got multiple moves,” Staley said. “They force you to foul, even when you’re not fouling.”
Subscribe to Gamecock Central until Aug. 31 for only $29.99
Zia Cooke drove baseline and was fouled on a layup. The foul allowed Dawn Staley to substitute, and South Carolina got bigger and faster. South Carolina quickly scored six points, forcing Kentucky to call a timeout.
“I think the biggest thing with us right now is hitting first. We tend to allow teams in certain situations to hit us first and then we’ve got to fight throughout the game,” Brea Beal said. “We needed to hit first and break out.”
Behind Raven Johnson, Cardoso, and Ashlyn Watkins, South Carolina went on a 17-2 run, turning the one-point deficit into a 32-18 lead. Six points came in transition, while all 17 points were either in the paint of from the free throw line.
South Carolina led by 15 at halftime. Kentucky used a 7-0 run in the third quarter to get within six, but an 11-0 South Carolina run put the Gamecocks back in control. Once again, the points came in transition (six points) or by getting the ball to Boston and Cardoso (nine points).
Become a “FAM” Member and support South Carolina women’s basketball players
Maddie Scherr scored a career-high 25 points in the first meeting but was held to 11 points on 1-10 shooting. Robyn Benton led all scorers with 24 points. Kentucky’s 69 points are the most South Carolina has allowed in regulation this season, passing the 66 Kentucky scored in the first meeting.
“69 is a little much for us,” Staley said. “We’ve got to get that under control.”
South Carolina played all 14 players, and everyone but Talaysia Cooper and Olivia Thompson scored. Eight players scored at least six points. Kentucky only got 13 points and 11 rebounds from its reserves
“They have depth after depth after depth,” Kyra Elzy said. “They keep coming and they’ve got size.”
South Carolina committed 18 turnovers, tied for the second-most it has committed in a game this season.
Notes:
South Carolina wore Black History Month t-shirts. … Victaria Saxton played in her 151st career game, setting a new school record. LeLe Grissett previously held the record. … Cardoso also had five blocks. … Ashlyn Watkins drew a technical foul in the fourth quarter. She had a free run to the basket but was fouled from behind by Scherr. Watkins apparently thought Scherr pushed her in the back and got in Scherr’s face after the play. They were quickly separated. … Former Gamecock Eniya Russell scored the final points of the game, a three with five seconds left. It was her only basket. … Each team was called for 20 fouls. Kentucky went 25-26 from the line. South Carolina went 17-19. … Aliyah Boston braids report: Boston sported blue braids with teal highlights. … Dawn Staley fit report: Staley wore a Reggie White Eagles throwback jersey, along with kelly green shoes. … Announced attendance was 12,743. … South Carolina’s next game is Sunday at UConn.
