WBB: Gamecocks beat Alabama 66-46
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South Carolina kept its unbeaten conference record intact with a 66-46 road win over Alabama. A'ja Wilson and Alaina Coates each recorded a double-double in the win.
It was another grind-it-out win for the Gamecocks against an inferior opponent, but they made the plays they needed to and won going away. The Crimson Tide's game plan was clear from the start: pack the lane on defense and fire away from three on offense. The strategy forced 16 Gamecock turnovers and kept the Tide close for the first three quarters, although the Gamecocks were never seriously challenged.
"We got it done," USC head coach Dawn Staley said. "I would like to see those turnovers down and I would like to see us convert a little more in transition."
South Carolina defense carried the load at the start of the game as the offense struggled to find a rhythm. It held Alabama to 2-16 shooting in the first quarter, and forced Alabama into 11 straight misses over a six-minute span as South Carolina took an eight-point lead after the first quarter.
The Gamecocks steadily increased their lead throughout the game. They led by 10 at halftime, and then by 14 after three quarters. As she has done all season, Wilson came up with key baskets for the Gamecocks. She scored back-to-back buckets to start the fourth quarter and Alabama called a quick timeout, sensing that any hope of a comeback was slipping away.
"She's going to see people's best effort," Staley said. "They're going to crowd her space, and she needs to learn how to play in a crowd."
But Wilson (16 points) and Coates (13 points) were too strong inside. Each made a free throw on the next possession, and then Coates followed with a pair of free throws and the lead was at 20. They were just as strong on the defensive side. Wilson had 10 rebounds for her eleventh double-double of the season. She also had three blocks and a steal. Meanwhile, Coates had 11 rebounds at halftime en route to a career-high 18 boards.
"Big girl, once she gets mad, look out," Staley said. "She came to play today."
The Gamecocks came close to doubling up the Tide on the glass with a 58-31 advantage, and Coates and Wilson were aided by an unlikely source. Khadijah Sessions tied her career-high in the first quarter with six rebounds. She grabbed her seventh early in the second quarter and finished with 11 rebounds. Sarah Imovbioh and another point guard, Bianca Cuevas, both had six rebounds off the bench.
Notes:
Jatarie White missed the game due to illness. White also missed the last game against Georgia. ... Asia Dozier returned to the starting lineup after missing five straight games with a right hand injury. She played 16 minutes and made one of her two shots. ... Tiffany Mitchell scored ten points. It was Mitchell's 100th career double-figure scoring game in 131 career games. ... In addition to the six rebounds, Cuevas had five points, three assists, and two steals in a nice bounce-back after being benched against Georgia. ... Shaquera Wade was the only Alabama player in double figures. She had 11 points. ... South Carolina returns to action Thursday night against Ole Miss.
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