No. 1 South Carolina limited Kentucky to 17 first-half points on its way to a 59-50 victory in Lexington, Thursday. Aliyah Boston provided the punch, extending her streak of double-doubles to sixteen games with 14 points and 15 rebounds. South Carolina has won six in a row over Kentucky and ten straight since suffering their only loss of the season, a one-point defeat at the hands of Missouri on Dec. 30th.
Kentucky made just 31% of its shots through three quarters as South Carolina built what proved to be an insurmountable 18-point lead. The Gamecocks (22-1, 10-1) relied on a familiar formula, hitting just one 3-pointer (Zia Cooke) but outscoring the Wildcats 46-26 in the paint.
South Carolina’s victory comes on the heels of the announcement that ESPN’s College Gameday will broadcast from the Colonial Life Arena prior to the home finale against Tennessee on Feb. 20th. The Gamecocks are only the third women’s program to host College Gameday following UConn in 2010 and Tennessee in 2011.
Dawn Staley’s club will next defend its no. 1 ranking at no. 17 Georgia, Sunday. Tip-off is scheduled for noon.
