COLLEGE PARK, MD.: Zia Cooke, Aliyah Boston and the top-ranked Gamecocks rolled past No. 17 Maryland 81-56, Friday. Cooke led the scoring attack with 18 points and Boston posted her 62nd career double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Maryland (1-1) put up a good fight early despite playing without their star, Diamond Miller. Miller missed the game due to a knee injury, but the Terps were down just six at the half. As is often the case, however, Dawn Staley’s team owned the third quarter, riding an 11-1 run to a 56-39 lead. South Carolina outscored Maryland 30-17 in the third to take control for good. The Gamecocks’ size advantage showed up in 11 blocked shots and a 55-32 advantage on the boards.
USC (2-0) is back on the road to face rival Clemson at 7 p.m., Thursday, with a potential 1 vs. 2 matchup at Stanford looming on November 20th.
Gamecocks postgame press conference
Head coach Dawn Staley and forward Aliyah Boston
