Rebounding Powers Gamecocks Past No. 21 Razorbacks

Box Score

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – South Carolina put the clamps on Chelsea Dungee and cruised to another win.
 
Zia Cooke had 21 points, Aliyah Boston added 19 points and a career-high 25 rebounds and the fourth-ranked Gamecocks cleared another significant hurdle in its quest for a Southeastern Conference championship by topping No. 21 Arkansas 91-82 on Thursday night.
 
Mikiah Herbert Harrigan and Tyasha Harris added 13 points for South Carolina.
 
The Gamecocks (15-1, 3-0) used a stingy defense to slow down Dungee, the Razorbacks star guard and one of the SEC’s best scorers.
 
Dungee racked up 63 points in two games last season against South Carolina but was held in check for most of the game. She began the night 0 for 11 from the field with three airballs. She came in averaging nearly 20 points per game but didn’t score her first field goal until the third quarter and finished with 14 points.
 
”This matchup is a hard matchup because Dungee really isn’t a post player. (Herbert Harrigan) took the challenge on Tuesday, and that’s the reaction we wanted to get out of her,” coach Dawn Staley said. ”I thought she did a great job of staying in front of her and staying long.”
 
Just as they did in a 99-72 rout of then-No. 13 Kentucky, the Gamecocks came out strong, bolting to a 31-15 lead after the first quarter.
 
Alexis Tolefree had 22 points and Amber Ramirez added 20 for Arkansas (13-3, 1-2).
 
The Razorbacks never quit fighting, even after the Gamecocks’ superlative first and third quarters. They cut what was a 25-point lead to nine in the fourth quarter before running out of time.
 
”Proud of our kids for surviving the punches in the first and third quarters, and staying in the game,” coach Mike Neighbors said. ”You stay with your kids, you don’t slow them down. If we slow down, we’re going to get beat by 30 there.”
 
That’s what had Staley cautioning that her team wasn’t where it really needs to be – at least not yet.
 
There was fatigue, there were some bad shots, but the Gamecocks quit answering and Arkansas made them pay.
 
Alexis Tolefree banged home three straight 3-pointers to make it close before South Carolina pulled away.
 
”We’re able to put teams away and if you’re fortunate to build a big lead, you should be able to finish them off,” Staley said. ”It’s hard against a team like Arkansas, especially if you don’t stay locked in.”
 
BIG PICTURE

Arkansas: The Razorbacks, who parlayed last year’s strong postseason run into a 12-1 start this year, remain searching for a signature win. They’ve lost to California, Texas A&M and South Carolina and don’t have a real resume-booster, although if they finish in the SEC’s top six, they should reach the NCAA tournament.

South Carolina: Coach Dawn Staley said she “refused to drink the Kool-Aid†after the Kentucky win, but she may be at least sipping from the cup. Her team is young but tremendously talented and has beaten five of its six Top 25 opponents this year.

GAMECHANGER

The Gamecocks dominated the glass on Thursday with 63 rebounds, the highest total during the Staley era, and out-rebounded Arkansas 63-33, the fourth-largest rebounding margin for Carolina under Staley.
 
KEY STAT

Carolina’s defense took Arkansas’ high-powered offense out of the game early, limiting the Razorbacks to just 30 points on 29.7 percent shooting and – as critically – 4-of-15 (.267) from 3-point range. Arkansas entered the game ranked fifth in the country in scoring (86.2 ppg) and 16th in the nation in 3-point percentage (.386)
 
NOTABLES

• Boston earned her second-straight double-double with 19 points and a career-best 25 rebounds, the second highest single-game total in program history. The freshman also accounted for five blocks and a steal. Boston etched her name in the record book tonight by breaking the records for most rebounds by a freshman (25), most offensive rebounds by a freshman (10) and most defensive rebounds by a freshman (15).
• Herbert Harrigan scored 13 points and moved into a tie for third place on the career blocks list with 177.
• Cooke notched her second-consecutive 20-point game with 21, including four 3-pointers. The Toledo, Ohio, native has cracked double figures in the last six games.
• Harris poured in 13 points for her third game in a row in double figures. Her seven assists tonight tie her season high, and she pulled down five rebounds on the night.
• Beal finished with 12 rebounds for a new career high, making it the first time multiple Gamecocks pulled down 10 or more rebounds since A’ja Wilson and Herbert Harrigan accomplished the feat against Virginia in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2018.
• Carolina out-rebounded Arkansas 63-33, leading to a season high 29 second-chance points for the Gamecocks.

 
 
UP NEXT

The Gamecocks (15-1, 3-0 SEC) head to Music City to clash with Vanderbilt (12-4, 2-1 SEC) on Sunday. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.

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