WBB: Gamecocks stay undefeated with 74-58 win at Auburn
South Carolina held Auburn scoreless for more than seven minutes as it cruised to a 74-58 win. Alaina Coates notched her ninth double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
South Carolina scored the first eight points of the game and led 12-2 midway through the first quarter. But the blowout was put on hold when Auburn went on a five-minute, 13-0 run. Janiah McKay made a pair of threes and scored the first 10 points of the run. South Carolina turned the ball over three times and missed six straight shots as it saw Auburn take the lead going into the second quarter.
Auburn stretched the lead to five at 20-15, but from then on it was all South Carolina. Tina Roy drilled a three, Coates fed Jatarie White for a layup to tie the game, and then Roy put South Carolina on top for good with another three. Tiffany Mitchell followed with a jumper, and then Roy fed Coates for a layup. Coates added a free throw, and then White made another layup, drawing the foul. She missed the free throw, but A'ja Wilson grabbed the offensive rebound and scored on a layup. Asia Dozier became the sixth player to score during the 18-0 run when she made a free throw at the end of the first half.
The Tigers missed 13 straight shots and were held scoreless over the final 7:25 of the half. They missed open shots, contested shots, long jumpers, and layups as nothing would fall.
The second half was more of the same as the Gamecocks led by as much as 24. They pounded the ball inside to Coates, who made easy baskets or passed to the open shooter. Coates went 8-10 from the floor and grabbed 10 rebounds. It was her ninth double-double of the season, tying her with Wilson for the team lead. It was also the tenth time in the last eleven games Coates grabbed ten or more rebounds.
Coates was one of four Gamecocks to score in double figures. Mitchell scored 13 points and dished out a game-high five assists. Roy had 12 points off the bench on 4-7 shooting from three, and Wilson added 11 points and six rebounds. White nearly hit double figures with nine points.
South Carolina outscored Auburn 36-16 in the paint and held a 34-30 rebounding edge. South Carolina also had an impressive 20 assists on 27 baskets. It shot 52 percent from the floor while holding Auburn to 35 percent.
Notes:
Doniyah Cliney made her first career three-pointer late in the third quarter. She played 11 minutes and finished with three points, three assists, and two rebounds. ... After scoring 10 consecutive points in the first quarter, McKay did not score again the rest of the game. ... Katie Frerking led Auburn with 17 points. ... South Carolina returns to action Sunday at Mississippi State.