No. 1 South Carolina Rolls to 13th Straight Win Over Clemson

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 18 points and Kamilla Cardoso had a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds as No. 1 South Carolina rolled to its 13th straight victory over state rival Clemson 109-40 Thursday night.

Oregon transfer Te-Hina Paopao had 14 points with four 3-pointers and the Gamecocks (3-0) used a 28-0 first-half run to win their 43rd straight at home. They have cracked the century mark in scoring in all three wins.

It was Dawn Staley’s 200th win in 16 seasons at Colonial Life Arena, a building that was largely empty for women’s hoops before she arrived. Now, the program has led the game in average attendance the past nine seasons and drew 16,007 this past Sunday for the 114-76 victory over No. 20 Maryland.

Expect the big crowds to continue with the show these Gamecocks have put on so far.

Fulwiley had two flashy plays, a half behind-the-back move before pulling the ball back for a layin, and a full behind-the-back pass to Ashlyn Watkins for another easy score as the Gamecocks pulled away.

Clemson (3-1) missed 17 straight shots during the back-breaking run.

Fulwiley had four 3s and nine rebounds before fouling out, while the 6-foot-7 Cardoso collected her 18th career game with double figure points and rebounds.

Raven Johnson had a career-best 17 assists, one shy of the South Carolina record. Watkins had her second double-double this season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Maddi Cluse led Clemson with 11 points.

Gamecock Notables

• Tonight’s win was South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley’s 200th in Colonial Life Arena. She needed just 234 games to hit the mark.
• South Carolina hit the 100-point mark for the third straight game, marking the longest such streak in program history.
• The Gamecocks’ defensive effort was more on par with previous seasons, yielding just 40 points, including just six in the opening quarter. The Tigers shot just 22.2 percent from the field for the game.
• South Carolina has hit double-digit 3-pointers  in both home games so far this season.
• The Gamecocks handed out 30 assists for the second-straight game, assisting on 68.2 percent of its field goals tonight.
• The Gamecocks’ 44 made field goals were the most  in the Staley era, topping the 43 each in the previous two games this season.
• Six Gamecocks finished in double figures, including three off the bench. Sakima Walker posted her first double-figure game as a Gamecock to cap off the double-digit scorers.