Dec. 4, 2014

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley notched her 300th career win as the No. 1/2 Gamecocks earned an 82-61 victory over Charlotte on Thursday night at Colonial Life Arena. Freshman A’ja Wilson led the Gamecocks with 17 points while Alaina Coates posted her third double-double of the season with 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

Elem Ibiam scored six of the Gamecocks’ first eight points, but the 49ers were on fire to start the game, hitting nine of their first 12 shots. The lights-out shooting helped Charlotte take a 17-16 lead eight minutes into the game after making three unanswered baskets.

Trailing 19-18, the Gamecocks got back on top thanks to a four-point possession. Coates hit the first of two free throws and Tiffany Mitchell snared the rebound then set up Tina Roy for a 3. The four points gave South Carolina a 23-19 lead and the momentum.

The Gamecock defense locked down over the last eight minutes of the half, holding Charlotte to just 1-of-15 from the field during the span to build a 20-4 run. Scoring came from six different Gamecocks, highlighted by eight points from Coates and seven from Mitchell, including a 3 from the corner, and South Carolina took a 46-28 lead into the locker room.

Out of the break, the 49ers’ shots were falling again. After sinking its first six attempts, Charlotte pulled to within 13 with 15 minutes to play at 55-42, but they would get no closer after Wilson hit back-to-back buckets and Roy’s 3 opened up the inside game again, where Ibiam capitalized.

For the second-straight contest, four Gamecocks reached double figures. In addition to Wilson and Coates, Ibiam added a season-high16 points while Aleighsa Welch narrowly missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.

GAMECHANGER

After starting the game shooting 75.0 percent from the field, the shots stopped falling for Charlotte. The Gamecocks held the 49ers to just one field goal in the final 12 minutes of the first half and put the game away with a 20-4 run.

KEY STAT The Gamecocks were above their averages of 38.0 points in the paint with 46 and 37.3 bench points with 41.

NOTABLES

• Staley has posted 128 of her 300 head coaching victories at South Carolina. She is now 300-151 in her career and 128-71 at South Carolina.
• Staley employed her fourth different starting line up this season with Asia Dozier getting her first start of the season.
• Tonight’s victory was South Carolina’s 23rd-straight victory at Colonial Life Arena.
• In seven games this season, the Gamecocks have not allowed more than 65 points.
• South Carolina is 7-0 for the third-straight season.

TWEET OF THE GAME

Congrats on win # 300 @dawnstaley Many more to come, along with national championships. Go @GamecockWBB #one

— Kris Truelove (@kristruelove5) December 5, 2014

Visit from @Cocky2001 tonight at @GamecockWBB… little @Life_Skillz / @e_e_johnson is a happy camper. pic.twitter.com/Nujp53GYvw

— Forrest L. Alton (@YoungGunCEO) December 5, 2014

QUOTABLE

South Carolina Head Coach Dawn Staley
I think it’s (her 300th career win) great. I think you can kind of reflect on all the players who have been in your program, but it happened in the middle of a tough, tough week. But I’m happy. I’m happy to share the moment with our coaching staff and our players. I’m just looking for 301 at this point.

UP NEXT In their first true road game of the season, the Gamecocks face No. 9/8 Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m. ESPN2 is set to broadcast the top-10 match up.