Nov. 20, 2016
COLUMBIA, S.C. — No. 4/3 South Carolina’s inside advantage was on full display in a 92-38 win over Hampton Sunday afternoon at Colonial Life Arena as All-Americans Alaina Coates and A’ja Wilson combined for 48 points in the Gamecocks’ home opener, played as part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge, Coates dominated from the field with 28 points and 16 rebounds, while Wilson capitalized from the free throw line, posting the program’s best perfect shooting game from the stripe with 14-of-14 accuracy.
The Gamecocks played in fits and starts in the first quarter, but dropped the hammer in the second, out-scoring the Lady Pirates 33-11 in the period behind 61.1 percent field goal shooting and 8-of-10 from the free throw line. Defensively, South Carolina forced eight Hampton turnovers in the decisive period and held the Lady Pirates to 25.0 percent shooting. The Gamecocks enjoyed a 36-50 rebounding advantage, including turning 20 offensive boards into 23 second-chance points.
After Bianca Cuevas-Moore and Wilson stretched a three-point lead late in the first quarter into a 15-point margin early in the second, South Carolina repeated found the hard-working Coates on the block. The senior center scored on five straight possessions as Allisha Gray found her in transition to start the surge and Coates proved too much to handle in the paint on the next four trips up the court.
The Gamecocks took a 53-26 lead into the locker room, and Coates continued her offensive output after halftime, scoring the Gamecocks’ first nine points of the period.
South Carolina’s defense overwhelmed Hampton in the second half with the Lady Pirates netting just 12 points after halftime and shot just 4-of-31 from the field.
Coates’ double-double — 28 points, 16 rebounds — was her fifth straight dating back to last season’s NCAA Tournament. Her 28 points were one shy of her career high. Wilson added 20 points, and Gray quietly posted 16 on 4-of-9 shooting. Behind Coates’ 16 rebounds, three Gamecocks turned in seven each — Kaela Davis, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan and Wilson. Davis led the way with five assists.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Dawn Staley
On the often unnoticed contributions of Allisha Gray
“She’s always the one that falls under the radar. She’s going to be probably our most consistent perimeter player as far as scoring the ball, rebounding the ball, getting out and defending. Sometimes when you have a personality like Allisha, people tend to forget about you. She’s somewhat of our silent assassin. She’s always going to give the same effort every time she steps onto the floor; she’s very, very competitive. Some players in the whole fold of what we have, have to play that role because if everyone wants that spotlight then there is not enough room.”
GAMECHANGER
After Hampton overcame the Gamecocks’ initial offensive flurry in the first quarter, South Carolina went to its strength in the second as Alaina Coates scored 10 of her 28 points on five straight possessions over a two-minute span.
KEY STAT
South Carolina shot 80.0 percent (28-of-35) from the free throw line, including 18-of-22 in the first half.
NOTABLES
- A’ja Wilson’s 14-of-14 free throw shooting marked best perfect free-throw game in program history, surpassing the 12-of-12 outings of Nikki Miars (12/18/96 vs. Clemson) and Sharon Gilmore (12/29/83 vs. Indiana).
- Alaina Coates moved into third place on the Gamecocks’ career rebounding list as her 16 against Hampton gave her 959, passing Aleighsa Welch (2012-15) at 956.
- Kaela Davis led the team in assists for the second time in as many games, handing out five.
- Hampton’s 12 points in the second half tied for the third-lowest second-half production by a Gamecock opponent in program history.
UP NEXT
South Carolina continues to host the early games of the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge on Monday and Tuesday. The Gamecocks will take on Maine tomorrow at 7 p.m., following the conclusion of the game between Saint Peter’s and Hampton, which tips off at 5 p.m.
