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No. 1 South Carolina, Boston power past Coastal 102-39
Women's Basketball  . 

No. 1 South Carolina, Boston power past Coastal 102-39

Postgame Press Conference Box Score (PDF)

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Aliyah Boston had 11 points and 10 rebounds for her 68th career double-double to keep No. 1 South Carolina undefeated with a 102-39 victory over Coastal Carolina on Wednesday.

Boston, who played just 13 minutes, moved four games away from matching the program’s all-time mark for double-doubles held by Sheila Foster established four decades ago.

Freshman Ashlyn Watkins had a career-high 16 points and Zia Cooke 14 as the defending national champs improved to 12-0 for a second straight season and the fourth time in Dawn Staley’s 15 years as coach.

This figured to be a challenge for the Chanticleers (5-6), who have just two players 6 feet or taller while South Carolina had 10.

And just about every Gamecock got the chance to show out as Staley mixed-and-matched her deep, talented roster.

South Carolina led 13-2 less than five minutes in and steadily built the lead to 36 by halftime. The Gamecocks’ trademark defense didn’t fade, no matter who Staley put on the court.

They outrebounded Coastal Carolina 34-12 and had 12 blocks the first 20 minutes.

Boston had three of her team’s season-high 16 blocks, including one where she chased down Amaya Adams, who had stolen the ball and was moving towards the basket when the reigning AP Player of the Year knocked the shot out of bounds.

Arin Freeman scored 15 points to lead Coastal Carolina, which shot just 20.5% (15 of 73) after coming in shooting 43% on the season. Aja Blount, the Chants’ top scorer at 17.5 points a game, was held to six points on 2-of-14 shooting.

South Carolina finished with five players in double figures for a second straight game.

Notables

  • The Gamecocks offense was dominant, tying a season high for points in a quarter with 30 in the first, and putting up the most points this year with 102. South Carolina’s defense did not drop off either, holding the Chanticleers to just 20.3% shooting from the field.
  • South Carolina’s rebound margin of 39 (64-25) is the fourth largest in the Dawn Staley era.
  • Eleven of 14 Gamecocks scored, with five finishing in double figures.
  • Block Party: South Carolina finished with a season-high 16 blocks against the Chanticleers, the second most in program history since 16 vs. Kansas State (12/03/21)
  • Ashlyn Watkins had a career day, putting up a new high of 16 points with half coming in the second quarter, including her own 6-2 run to put the Gamecocks up 30.
  • Zia Cooke secured 14 points, putting up nine in the third quarter with a second-half opening 3 to start a 10-3 run for the Gamecocks. She also tied her career high with five assists.
  • Santa Feagin finished strong, putting up 11 of the team’s 23 points in the final quarter and tying her career high with three blocks.
  • Aliyah Boston secured her 68th career double-double, contributing 11 points and a team-high 10 rebounds, in addition to three blocks all in the first half.

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