Boston leads No. 1 Gamecocks over Vandy 96-48

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Aliyah Boston scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as top-ranked South Carolina dominated Vanderbilt 96-48 Thursday night for the Gamecocks’ 25th straight victory.

With her fourth straight double-double and 12th this season, the reigning AP national player of the year matched the program record of 72 set by Sheila Foster between 1979 and 1982. Boston hit all eight of her shots while playing 22 minutes.

South Carolina (19-0, 7-0 Southeastern Conference) evened up the all-time series at 21 with the Gamecocks’ 15th straight victory, including seven straight at Memorial Gymnasium. The Gamecocks hadn’t been tied with Vanderbilt since splitting the first games in 1991-92.

Zia Cooke led South Carolina with 17 points, and Kamilla Cardoso had 10 points and 15 rebounds.

Vanderbilt (9-11, 0-6) remains winless in league play. Coach Shea Ralph has only eight Commodores available because of season-ending injuries to three players before her second season opener.

Marnelle Garraud led Vanderbilt with 15 points. She was held to just 1 of 7 outside the arc after making 7 of 10 3-pointers in Monday night’s 84-81 loss at Arkansas. Garraud made four of those in the final 75 seconds to tie it at 81 before the Commodores lost on a buzzer-beating 3.

Ciaja Harbison, Vanderbilt’s leading scorer at 19 points per game, was held to nine. Demi Washington added 10.

The Commodores played tough early with six lead changes. Vanderbilt last led 9-8 with 4:22 left in the first quarter on a driving layup by Garraud off a bad pass by Gamecocks forward Victaria Saxton.

Cooke knocked down a jumper with 3:56 left to put the Gamecocks ahead to stay, and they led 18-9 at the end of the first quarter. South Carolina put together 18 straight in outscoring Vanderbilt 27-8 in the second quarter.

South Carolina led as much as 46 late in the third before taking a 74-30 lead into the fourth.

Notables

• South Carolina’s offense stayed efficient, shooting over 60.0 percent for the third time in the last five games.
• The Gamecocks capitalized on 17 offensive rebounds to post 21 second chance points, compared to Vanderbilt’s three.
• Power in the Paint: South Carolina scored 60 of its 96 points in the paint, double the Commodores’ 30.
• The Gamecock defense was strong, ending with 14 total blocks – the second highest in an SEC game in program history
• Aliyah Boston secured her name at the top of the Gamecock record books with 72 career double-doubles (16 points, 10 rebounds), going a perfect 8-of-8 from the field and hitting the mark in just 22 minutes on the court.
• Zia Cooke’s 17 points marked her 10th consecutive game ending in double figures, with 11 points coming in the third quarter as part of a 14-5 run by the Gamecocks.
• Kamilla Cardoso earned her 10th career double-double while being a force on the glass, tallying a team-high 15 boards, the most for her in an SEC regular season game and tied for the most by a Gamecock in a game this season.
• Brea Beal had a solid outing, scoring seven of her nine points in the first half including a three to cap a 9-0 run by South Carolina.