USC defeated a top-20 ranked opponent for the 8th time this season Sunday afternoon dominating 20th ranked Kentucky 74-54 in Columbia. The Gamecocks used a 23-9 second quarter to pull away from the Wildcats who had played them to an 18-18 tie in the opening quarter. USC outscored Kentucky by nine in the third quarter to build a 25-point lead. Dawn Staley was able to go to her bench liberally in the fourth quarter.
Aliyah Boston was too much to handle inside for the Wildcats. She recorded her 9th straight double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds. USC outscored UK in the paint 54-22 and won the boards 55-37.
Zia Cooke, on her 21st birthday, actually led four Gamecocks in double figures with 19 points.
Defensively, the Gamecocks limited Kentucky star Rhyne Howard to a 2-14 shooting night and a total of nine points.
The Gamecocks are 15-1 and 3-1 in the SEC. They will host Texas A&M on Thursday night.
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