WBB: Gamecocks move to 20-0 with 81-62 win over Ole Miss
Photo Gallery by Chris Gillespie
South Carolina cruised to a 81-62 win over Ole Miss Thursday night at Colonial Life Arena. Alaina Coates had another double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
A'ja Wilson scored the first six points of the game, and South Carolina never looked back. The first seven rebounds of the game all went to South Carolina, and Ole Miss had to call a timeout just five minutes into the game. Wilson and Tiffany Mitchell did all the scoring early, both scoring eight points before anyone else from South Carolina scored. Tina Roy made a three to end the streak, and South Carolina led 24-11 after the first quarter.
The Rebels were able to mount a run in the second quarter, but the threat was short-lived. After another three by Roy put the Gamecocks up 32-16, Shandricka Sessom made consecutive baskets. Erika Sisk made a free throw, and then Shequila Joseph capped the run with a three. The Gamecocks' veterans put a stop to the run. Khadijah Sessions drew a foul and made a free throw, Coates got open inside for a layup, and Mitchell leaked out on a defensive rebound for an easy layup. The Rebels called a timeout to slow the momentum, but the damage was done. Coates added another free throw out of the timeout to make it a 6-0 run, and the Rebels never got within single digits again.
"We were rolling on both sides of the ball," USC head coach Dawn Staley said.
South Carolina led 40-26 at halftime, and opened the second half the way it opened the first - with a 6-0 run. Wilson again started things with a layup, and then Mitchell and Coates each added a layup. Now down 20, Ole Miss called another timeout, but there was no slowing South Carolina. It made its first six shots of the quarter and first three free throws. South Carolina would lead by as much as 24 as it coasted to the victory.
Sessom led all scorers with 26 points, but she was the only Rebel in double figures. Wilson led the Gamecocks with 17 and finished one rebound shy of a double-double. Mitchell added 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
But it was Coates who led the way. Coates finished with her tenth double-double of the season, and had double digit rebounds for the eleventh time in twelve games. She leads the Gamecocks and the SEC in double-doubles and rebounding this season.
" I always welcome a challenge," Coates said. "Coach Staley has been pushing me to be more aggressive."
South Carolina dominated the glass, finishing with a 45-28 rebounding edge. South Carolina finished the game with 24 assists on 31 baskets. It had eight assists on nine shots in the first quarter and five assists on six baskets in the second quarter.
"It was great to see us lock in and make shots and share the basketball," Staley said. "When basketball is played like that it is beautiful and everybody feels like they are a part of it."
Notes:
Former Gamecock baseball player Jackie Bradley, Jr. attended the game. The baseball team begins practice this weekend. ... Staley wore her glasses during the game. She typically only wears glasses on the road. ... Sessions and Asia Dozier each had five assists for the Gamecocks. ... Sarah Imovbioh had seven points and nine rebounds off the bench. ... Doniyah Cliney had four points in 12 minutes. She also had three fouls. Cliney now has 13 fouls in 56 minutes this season. ... Eli the Bear made his return appearance in the postgame press conference. When asked if he was going to travel with the team, Eli answered, "Yes." Eli originally belonged to Mitchell but has become a team mascot of sorts since Christmas. He even has his own Twitter account, @GamecockEli. ... Staley was not aware of Eli until asked about him after the game. "Eli?" she asked confusedly. "Well Eli's undefeated so yay for Eli." ... Attendance was 14,313. ... South Carolina returns to action Sunday at Texas A&M.
Ole Miss coach Matt Insell had the one-liners going after the game.
On the Chick-fil-A "Fowl Shot" promotion, where fans can win free food if an opposing player misses both free throws: " I didn't know if I was going to get Chick-fil-A if she missed the free throw, so I'm glad she made the second."
On the crowd: " Our kids were scared to death. In the timeout I told them, 'Look around. They're not going anywhere.'"
On the size of South Carolina's front line: "I wish we could get kids that look like that in Oxford. Can we get those families a job in Oxford?"
Insell, who was formerly an assistant coach at Kentucky, said he does not model his program after Kentucky, but after South Carolina. "By no means am I doing that. I'm looking at what Dawn Staley did at South Carolina. It takes time. You're getting young kids that grow in the program and you add better players every year. All of a sudden you look up and you're number five in the country. That's what we're building towards."
