South Carolina women's basketball: Aliyah Boston sets double-double record and the Gamecocks demolish the Razorbacks
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South Carolina beat Arkansas 92-46 to win one of the most lopsided games of the season, and Aliyah Boston became the school’s new double-double queen.
Over the past four seasons, Arkansas has struggled against South Carolina. The Razorbacks don’t have the size to handle the Gamecocks in the paint, while the Gamecocks have enough speed on defense to run the Razorbacks off the three-point line.
There have been some lopsided games, but nothing like Sunday’s drubbing. Arkansas knew it would have to make shots to keep pace with South Carolina, and it worked. For about six minutes.
“We did a great job,” Dawn Staley said. “Preparation was pretty good. The way we had to defend them was pretty good. We didn’t let them get away from us.”
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The Razorbacks missed eleven consecutive shot attempts spanning the first and second quarters. During that time, South Carolina went on a 25-2 run. In a matter of minutes, it seemed, a 17-15 Gamecock lead became a 20-point margin, and then a blink of an eye later it was 30.
“We’re starting to play better as a team,” Zia Cooke said. “It’s all starting to fall into place and it’s coming at the perfect timing.”
Arkansas never recovered. The shots never started to go back in, and South Carolina was historically dominant in the paint.
“They just frustrate you,” Mike Neighbors said. “You can do a lot of right things and then they make you wrong at the end of it.”
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Boston recorded her 73rd career double-double midway through the third quarter. She missed a shot, grabbed the rebound, and missed again before scoring a putback. She broke a tie with the great Sheila Foster, who was in the crowd for the moment. Foster received a nice ovation when she was announced to the crowd.
“You’ve got to be a go-getter, just keep going, keep attacking, keep rebounding,” Boston said. “My teammates do a great job of pushing me no matter what. I try to help them by rebounding.”
Boston finished with 13 points, 14 rebounds, and three assists in just 23 minutes.
Kamilla Cardoso also finished with a double-double. She had 12 points, tied her career-high with 16 rebounds, and blocked three shots.
South Carolina finished with 74 rebounds, the second-most in program history and the most under Staley. Arkansas had just seven rebounds in the first half and finished with a season-low 17 rebounds. The rebounding margin of plus-57 is the most in program history and the most in the NCAA in the last 20 years.
Jersey Wolfenbarger led Arkansas with three rebounds. Eleven South Carolina players had at least three rebounds.
South Carolina’s post players almost stole the attention from Cooke, who finished with 24 points. Cooke shot 8-11 from the floor, including 4-5 from three and 4-4 from the line. She also had three assists for what might have been the most efficient game of her career.
Notes:
Talaysia Cooper missed her second straight game with a lower right leg injury. … Sunday’s game was South Carolina’s “We Back Pat” game. Players and coaches from both teams wore We Back Pat t-shirts. South Carolina also played videos honoring Pat Summitt and supporting the Pat Summitt Foundation’s fight against Alzheimer’s. … The game was briefly delayed in the first quarter when official Dee Kantner had a problem with her whistle. … The public address announcer mistakenly introduced the “Arizona Razorbacks.” After the game, Neighbors apologized for not representing the state of Arizona better. … Aliyah Boston braids report: it was the home debut for Boston’s blue braids with teal highlights. … Dawn Staley fit report: Staley wore a black hoodie over her We Back Pat shirt. … Announced attendance was 13,349. … South Carolina is off Thursday and returns to action next Sunday at Alabama.
