Dec. 8, 2015

COLUMBIA, S.C. ââ’¬” South Carolina sophomore forward A’ja Wilson earned her second-consecutive SEC Player of the Week recognition and her third of the season, the league office announced today. Wilson was critical to the Gamecocks’ win over No. 14/13 Duke last Sunday, recording a career-high 28 points, including 20 in the second half.

Wilson’s contribution to No. 2/2 South Carolina’s third win over a ranked team this season went beyond her offensive and rebounding output, which totaled 28 points and 11 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. She limited Duke’s Preseason All-American Azura Stevens to just 11 points, nearly half her average entering the game, including blocking her shot and forcing a turnover on consecutive possessions of a two-point game with under 5:00 top play to help the Gamecocks continue an 11-0 run that delivered the win. The Hopkins, S.C., product posted 12 of the team’s 16 points in the third quarter, single-handedly erasing Duke leads three times in the period. Wilson shook off tough free throw shooting early to hit 6-of-6 form the stripe when the game was in the balance in the third quarter.

On the season, Wilson is just shy of averaging a double-double with 18.4 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. She leads the SEC in three categories ââ’¬” blocked shots per game (3.1), double-doubles (5) and field goals made (60). Wilson is 10th in the nation in blocks per game and sixth in double-doubles.

The No. 2/2 Gamecocks return to action on Sun., Dec. 13, against Winthrop with tipoff at Colonial Life Arena set for 2 p.m.