Nov. 4, 2012
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COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina women’s basketball defeated Anderson 88-31 in exhibition play on Sunday at Colonial Life Arena. Sophomore forward Aleighsa Welch and freshman guard Asia Dozier both led the Gamecocks in scoring, each registering 14 points, and sophomore center Elem Ibiam led the team in rebounds with 12.
“I was very pleased with our effort,” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said. “I thought we would come out and play energized because of the monotony of practice the last couple of weeks was really wearing on us. The freshmen looked good today. We have to take these moments and enjoy them, but continue to teach them. Overall I was glad that they got this one under their belt.”
The Gamecocks opened the game with a nine-point run sparked by Welch and a quick five-point contribution from senior forward Ashley Bruner. Anderson got on the board with four points from senior guard Alissa Diaz, and the Gamecocks followed with another four points of their own, making the score 13-4.
Dozier added four more points to the Gamecock lead, followed by three more Welch, and junior center Wilka Montout came off the bench to finish the 12-point run with her first points of the game.
The Trojans added two more to their score with free throws from senior forward Breonda Shannon, but the Gamecocks continued their dominance, adding nine more points to give them a 34-6 lead. The nine-point run started with three from Welch as well as three from freshman guard Tiffany Mitchell.
In the last four minutes of the half, Anderson put up seven points and South Carolina added nine of their own to take a 30-point lead into the break.
The Gamecocks extended their lead quickly in the second half with back-to-back buckets from senior guard Sancheon White, and Welch went to the line for an additional two points. The Trojans followed with four from Shannon, but South Carolina answered with a seven-point run, including four from senior guard Ieasia Walker.
Anderson cut the Gamecock lead with a 3-pointer from junior guard Paige Whitaker, and South Carolina responded with six more points, including four from Ibiam. The Gamecocks continued to increase their lead with help from freshman guard Khadijah Sessions, who tallied eight points in the second half.
South Carolina shot 51.5 percent from the field in the game and out-rebounded the Trojans 45-21. The Gamecocks built much of their advantage in the post, netted 50 of their 88 points in the paint, including 16 on fast breaks. Five Gamecocks finished in double figures as White, Sessions and Mitchell joined the leading scorers with 13, 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Gamecocks will begin the regular season at Colonial Life Arena on Fri., Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. against Elon.
