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WBB: Gamecocks reach historic perfection

Photo Gallery by Chris Gillespie

With history at stake South Carolina left nothing to chance, routing LSU 75-39 Sunday afternoon at Colonial Life Arena to finish off a perfect SEC season. It is just the second time in history an SEC team has gone 16-0 in league play.

The Gamecocks were in the same position last season. They only had to beat the Kentucky Wildcats to clinch a perfect season. But Aleighsa Welch, the team's emotional leader, was sick and her lack of energy permeated the team. The Wildcats were able to take advantage of the lethargy to score an upset win.

This season, South Carolina's stated goal from the outset was to go 16-0. After suffering its only loss of the season against Connecticut, USC head coach Dawn Staley reminded the team, "Our goal is still out there." They listened.

"It's something our seniors wanted to do since they were that close," Staley said. "The historical run that they put us on, this kind of capped it off. I'm glad it was them. They've seen the good, bad, and ugly of this program."

"We accomplished one of our goals for the season, but we're not done at all," Tiffany Mitchell said. "We want to win another Tournament Championship and go to the Final Four."

South Carolina led just 14-8 after the first quarter, but quickly turned the game into a blowout with an offensive outburst. Behind Mitchell and A'ja Wilson, South Carolina went on a back-breaking 22-4 run. They combined to score 14 during the span, and South Carolina made four threes and converted two three point plays. South Carolina shot 7-9 in the second quarter and 4-6 from three. The defense was just as strong, holding LSU to 2-6 shooting and forcing five turnovers.

The Gamecocks held the Tigers to 2-15 shooting in the third quarter as they stretched the lead past 30 points. Offensively, Wilson and Mitchell had a back-and-forth as the two favorites for SEC Player of the Year seemed determined to outdo each other. Wilson scored 12 of her 14 points in the first half, but only played six minutes in the second half due to the blowout. She also had a team-high seven rebounds and a block.

It was Mitchell's day, though. Fittingly, the senior a season-high 24 points on Senior Day. She hit from everywhere, making four three-pointers and going 6-7 from the free throw line as she moved in to fifth place on the school's all-time scoring list. Mitchell also dished out five assists and had three steals before checking out of her final regular season game with 3:07 left to play.

"It was a really emotional day," Mitchell said. "I was just trying to play well for everybody."

South Carolina now turns its attention to the SEC Tournament in Jacksonville, and then the NCAA Tournament. The first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament should be played in Columbia, and after the game, Staley reminded the crowd the season is not over.

"We're not done. We wish you guys would travel with us when we go down to Jacksonville," she said. "In the first and second rounds I want this place filled up. We can't give towels away, so bring your towels, bring your washcloths!"

Notes:

The only other team to go 16-0 in the SEC was Tennessee in 2011. ... Five seniors were recognized before the game: Mitchell, Khadijah Sessions, Asia Dozier, Tina Roy, and Sarah Imovbioh. They were recognized with a video montage, and an original poem read by Roy. ... Roy scored nine points, Sessions had three points and three steals, Dozier had two assists, and Imovbioh had five rebounds. ... In going 16-0, South Carolina kept alive its streak of improving its conference win total every year under Staley. Staley joked this week she is going to petition the SEC to add games to the league schedule to maintain her streak. ... Neither Wilson nor Mitchell would say who should win SEC Player of the Year. Both gave the award to Eli the Bear. Staley also finished her portion of the press conference by saying, "Eli for Player of the Year." ... Eli the Bear actually got his own microphone for the press conference, and Wilson opened the press conference by requesting questions for Eli. ... LSU's 20 turnovers were evenly spaced. It committed five turnovers in each quarter. ... LSU managed to win the rebounding battle 29-27, thanks largely to 15 offensive rebounds. Shooting 29 percent from the field and missing 32 shots will lead to a lot of offensive rebounds. ... South Carolina has held three straight opponents under 30 percent shooting. Opponents have missed 45, 49, and 32 shots during the span. ... Just for good measure, LSU's Ashley Humbles missed two free throws with 10 seconds left to send the crowd home with free Chick-fil-A. She actually missed three free throws, but the second miss was wiped off due to a lane violation. ... Attendance was 16,240. ... South Carolina returns to action Friday at noon. It will play the winner of the 8 versus 9 game between Missouri and Auburn.

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