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Alaina Coates

  • position C
  • height 6-4
  • class Senior
  • Hometown Irmo, S.C.
  • High school Dutch Fork
  • position C
  • height 6-4
  • class Senior
  • Hometown Irmo, S.C.
  • High school Dutch Fork

Alaina Coates Bio

Awards
Senior Year (2016-17)
Honorable Mention All-America (AP, WBCA)
All-SEC First Team (Coaches)
All-SEC Second Team (AP)
SEC All-Defensive Team
Two-time SEC Player of the Week
SEC Community Service Team

Junior Year (2015-16)
All-SEC First Team (Coaches. AP)
Honorable Mention All-America (AP, WBCA)
Wade Trophy Finalist
NCAA Sioux Falls All-Regional Team

Sophomore Year (2014-15)
SEC All-Defensive Team
All-SEC Second Team (Coaches, AP)
NCAA Greensboro Region MOP
SEC All-Tournament Team

Freshman Year (2013-14)
SEC Co-6th Player of the Year (Coaches)
SEC Freshman/Newcomer of the Year (Coaches, AP)
Freshman All-America First Team (Full Court)
All-SEC Second Team (Coaches)
All-SEC Honorable Mention (AP)
SEC All-Freshman Team
NCAA Tournament All-Region Team
Five-Time SEC Freshman of the Week

High School
McDonald’s All-America (2012-13)
Parade All-America (2012-13)
South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association Class 4A Player of the Year (2012-13)

International
2015 Pan Am Games, silver medal

In the Record Books
Career
1st — Field goal percentage in a career (.620 (597-963))
1st — Defensive rebounds in a career (850)
2nd — Rebounds in a career (1,230)
2nd — Blocked shots in a career (210)
3rd — Double-Doubles in a career (57)
3rd — Free throw attempts in a career (638)
3rd — Blocked shots average in a career (1.6)
3rd — Offensive rebounds in a career (380)
5th — Rebounding average in a career (9.2)
6th — Games played in a career (133)
7th — Free throws made in a career (409)
1st — Field goal percentage in an SEC career (.619 (266-430))
1st — Free throw attempts in an SEC career (297)
1st — Rebounds in an SEC career (599)
1st — Rebounding average in an SEC career (9.7)
1st — Defensive rebounds in an SEC career (437)
1st — Double-Doubles in an SEC career (27)
2nd — Blocked shots in an SEC career (92)
3rd — Offensive rebounds in an SEC career (162)
5th — Games played in an SEC career (62)
Most rebounds in an NCAA Tournament career (107)
Best field goal percentage in an NCAA Tournament career (.642 (61-95))
Most offensive rebounds in an NCAA Tournament career (73)
Most rebounds in an SEC Tournament career (72)
Most offensive rebounds in an SEC Tournament career (28)

Season
1st — Field goal percentage in a season (.644 (168-261) in 2015-16)
1st — Defensive rebounds in a season (253 in 2015-16)
3rd — Defensive rebounds in a season (208 in 2016-17)
4th — Blocked shots in a season (73 in 2013-14)
4th — Defensive rebounds in a season (203 in 2013-14)
5th — Blocked shots average in a season (2.1 in 2013-14)
5th — Offensive rebounds in a season (101 in 2015-16)
1st — Rebounds in an SEC season (177 in 2015-16)
1st — Rebounding average in an SEC season (11.1 in 2016-17)
1st — Defensive rebounds in an SEC season (140 in 2015-16)
1st — Double-doubles in an SEC season (10 in 2015-16)
2nd — Rebounds in an SEC season (166 in 2016-17)
2nd — Rebounding average in an SEC season (11.1 in 2015-16)
2nd — Defensive rebounds in an SEC season (123 in 2016-17)
3rd — Defensive rebounds in an SEC season (100 in 2013-14)
2nd — Double-doubles in an SEC season (7 in 2016-17)
3rd — Double-doubles in an SEC season (5 in 2013-14 and 2014-15)
3rd — Blocked shots in an SEC season (35 in 2013-14)
4th — Rebounds in an SEC season (136 in 2013-14)
4th — Blocked shots average in an SEC season (2.2 in 2013-14)
Best field goal percentage by a freshman (.612 (148-242) in 2013-14)
Best field goal percentage by a junior (.644 (168-261) in 2015-16)
Most defensive rebounds by a freshman (203 in 2013-14)
Most defensive rebounds by a junior (253 in 2015-16)
Most defensive rebounds by a senior (208 in 2016-17)
Most blocked shots by a freshman (73 in 2013-14)
Most double-doubles by a freshman (10 in 2013-14)
Best field goal percentage in a single NCAA Tournament (.750 (21-28) in 2016)
Most rebounds in a single SEC Tournament (30 in 2016)
Most offensive rebounds in a single SEC Tournament (16 in 2016)

Game
1st — Blocked shots in a game (10 vs. Winthrop, 12/13/15)
2nd — Defensive rebounds in a game (16 at Kentucky, 2/2/17)
2nd — Rebounds in an SEC game (19 at Arkansas, 2/5/17)
2nd — Defensive rebounds in an SEC game (16 at Kentucky, 2/2/17)
3rd — Defensive rebounds in an SEC game (14 at Arkansas, 2/5/17)
4th — Rebounds in an SEC game (18 at Kentucky, 2/2/17; 18 at Alabama, 2/22/16)
5th — Defensive rebounds in an SEC game (13 at Alabama, 2/22/16)
Best field goal percentage by a freshman (1.000 (7-7) vs. SC State, 12/22/13)
Most free throw attempts by a freshman (15 at San Diego State, 11/23/13)
Most blocked shots in a game in Colonial Life Arena (10 vs. Winthrop, 12/13/15)
Best free throw percentage in an NCAA Tournament game (1.000 (10-10) vs. North Carolina, 3/27/15)
Most offensive rebounds in an SEC Tournament game (8 vs. Auburn, 3/4/16)

Career Summary

  • Taken second in the 2017 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky, the highest draft pick in program history
  • First Gamecock to earn All-SEC honors from league coaches all four years of her career (First Team in 2016, 2017; Second Team in 2014, 2015)
  • Third Gamecock all-time to amass 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds and now stands second in program history in career boards
  • Fourth Gamecock all-time to accrue 1,500 career points playing every season in the SEC, 12th overall
  • First player in school history to amass 50 career double-doubles playing every season in the SEC, second player ever to reach the milestone
  • Finished career holding eight career records, six single-season marks and one single-game top spot

Senior Year (2016-17)

  • First-Team All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive Team
  • Team captain
  • Three-time SEC Player of the Week (11/15-21, 11/22-28, 12/13-19); USBWA National Player of the Week (12-13/19)
  • Led the SEC and was fourth in the nation in field goal percentage … was 13th nationally and second in the conference in rebounds … finished season 23rd in the SEC in scoring
  • Led the league with 11.1 rebounds in conference play … averaged a double-double in SEC play — 12.7 ppg, 11.1 rpg
  • Missed all but four minutes of the postseason due to recovery from an ankle injury
  • Led team in rebounding in 20 of her 28 games, scoring in double figures 19 times to finish with 15 double-doubles
  • Returned from ankle injury to fall just one rebound shy of a double-double against #22/- Kentucky (Feb. 26) in the regular-season finale, picking up eight of her 13 points in the first half
  • Netted 10 points and grabbed nine of her game-high 15 boards in the second half at #1/1 UConn (Feb. 13) to notch her fourth double-double against a top-10 opponent this season
  • Scored six of team’s first 12 points to put Auburn (Feb. 9) on its heels early, finishing 7-of-9 from the floor
  • Dominated down low early and often at Arkansas (Feb. 5), beginning with personal 6-0 run in first quarter to open 13-2 lead just 4:30 into the game and recording her double-double with 3:00 left in first half … career-high 19 rebounds are most by any SEC player this season
  • Scored 13 of her game-high 20 points in the second half at #25/- Kentucky (Feb. 2)
  • Protected the rim at Georgia (Jan. 26) with a game-high four blocks, the first of which gave her 200 for her career
  • Converted a key layup to put Carolina ahead by three with 25 seconds to play against #4/4 Mississippi State (Jan. 23)
  • Had six points and six rebounds in eight first-quarter minutes against Ole Miss (Jan. 19), scoring another six points during a 13-3 Gamecock run that ended the second quarter with a double-digit Gamecock lead
  • Netted 18 of her game-high 24 points in the first half at LSU (Jan. 15), going 8-of-11 from the line
  • Great on the glass in the opening 10 minutes against Georgia (Jan. 12) with eight rebounds, which tied for the most in one quarter in program history
  • Notched 50th career double-double against Alabama (Jan. 1), posting nine points and five boards in the first quarter
  • Scored 11 of her 20 points against #9/9 UCLA (Dec. 18) in the third quarter to fuel Carolina’s game-changing 24-5 run that turned a first-half deficit into a double-digit lead late in the period
  • Imposed her will in all aspects against Clemson (Dec. 15) — points, rebounds, assists, blocks — moving into second on South Carolina’s all-time rebounding list with the last of her 10 boards
  • Converted all five of her field goal attempts in the second half against Minnesota (Dec. 11) on the way to her fifth double-double of the season
  • Controlled the glass down the stretch against #14/15 Texas (Dec. 1) with seven second-half boards, the sixth of which gave her 1,000 for her career
  • Matched a career high with four steals against #4/4 Louisville (Nov. 27), including one that led to a pivotal 3-point play for Carolina at the end of the first half

Junior Year (2015-16)

  • First-Team All-SEC selection by both the league’s coaches and the Associated Press
  • Ranked ninth in the nation in double-doubles (20) and 19th in rebounding average (10.3); leading the SEC in both
  • Averaged a double-double in overall and in SEC play, becoming the first Gamecock to average double-figure rebounds overall since 1992-93 (Marsha Williams) and in SEC play since 1993-94 (Melinda McDaniel)
  • Became the 31st player in program history to net 1,000 career points and the fifth to do it with 900 rebounds — just the second to hit both marks prior to her senior season
  • Led team in rebounds 24 times — at Clemson, at UCLA, Winthrop, Hampton, vs. ECU, Elon, Ark., at Vandy, Mizzou, Texas A&M, at Auburn, at Miss. St., Ole Miss, at Texas A&M, Ky., UConn, Florida, at Tenn., at Ala., at Ole Miss, vs. Auburn, vs. Kentucky, Kansas State, Syracuse
  • Recorded a double-double in each of South Carolina’s NCAA Tournament games and was named to the Sioux Falls Regional All-Tournament Team
  • Went 7-of-7 from the field in the NCAA Sweet 16 against Syracuse (Mar. 25), scoring 11 of her team-high 18 points in the fourth quarter as Gamecocks looked to rally
  • Took over after halftime in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Jacksonville (Mar. 18), tallying 15 second-half points, including nine in the third quarter to help South Carolina build a 24-point lead heading into the last period
  • Averaged a double-double in SEC Tournament — 10.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg — adding two double-doubles to her season total
  • Scored seven of the second half’s first 11 points against #13/13 Kentucky (Mar. 5) in SEC Tournament semifinal to help stretch lead to 18 and finished with a double-double for the 17th time this season
  • Tallied eight points during 12-3 second-quarter run against Auburn (Mar. 4) in SEC Tournament quarterfinal as Gamecocks opened 16-point halftime lead
  • Broke school record for career defensive rebounds with 12 of her 14 at Ole Miss (Feb. 25) coming on that end
  • Dominated the glass at Alabama (Feb. 22) with 11 of her career-high 18 rebounds coming in 16 first-half minutes
  • Scored eight of her 14 points in the second half against #16/19 Florida (Feb. 11), including six in the fourth quarter to go along with two key assists that helped the Gamecocks preserve their lead down the stretch
  • Dominated both ends of the floor against #18/18 Kentucky (Feb. 4), especially down the stretch with 12 of her SEC career-high 27 points coming in the fourth quarter on 4-of-4 field goals and 4-of-5 free throws
  • Quietly stuffed the stat sheet at #10/10 Texas A&M (Jan. 31), adding career-high six assists to her double-double and helping key a 10-0 fourth-quarter run that turned a deficit into a six-point lead with solid defense at the rim, three defensive rebounds and a drive to the basket
  • Grabbed nine of her 14 rebounds against Ole Miss (Jan. 28) in the first half and scored five of last seven points of the half
  • Shook off tough scoring night with great rebounding at #10/10 Mississippi State (Jan. 24), including six in a tight third quarter and her 11th of the night sparking a transition layup for a six-point lead with 3:01 to play
  • Established inside game early with six of team’s first 12 points at Auburn (Jan. 21) and nearly had double-double by halftime
  • Recorded 1,000th career point in first minute against #20/- Missouri (Jan. 10), finishing with third-straight double-double
  • Completed her school-record 12th career double-double in SEC play with key putback in late 11-3 run that sealed win at Vanderbilt (Jan. 7)
  • Converted all six of her free throw attempts against Elon (Dec. 22), to finish in double figures for fifth-straight game
  • Posted third-straight double-double against East Carolina (Dec. 20), grabbing 10 of her 15 rebounds in just 11 minutes of second-half action
  • Recorded double-double against Hampton (Dec. 16) with 10 of 22 points coming during a 12-4 second-half run
  • Played an historic career game against Winthrop (Dec. 13), recording program’s first triple-double since Dec. 20, 2006, and first ever with blocked shots, swatting away a school-record 10 to go with her career high 29 points and 16 rebounds
  • Connected on 7-of-9 field goals against #14/13 Duke (Dec. 6) and tallied six crucial points down the stretch to help South Carolina pull away
  • Scored the game-tying putback with 56 seconds left against #16/18 ASU (Nov. 27)
  • Double-double at UCLA (Nov. 22) kept Gamecocks within reach and made key steal during 8-2 run over final 90 seconds to secure the win
  • Dominated the glass late against #6/10 Ohio State (Nov. 13), especially in 10-2 run over final 2:35 that decided the game, and finished the contest with her 24th career double-double (17 pts, 13 rebs)

Sophomore Year (2014-15)

  • Named All-SEC Second Team for second-straight season and All-Defensive Team
  • Second in the SEC in double-doubles (12), fourth in rebounding average (7.9) and 20th in scoring average (11.1) … among top 10 in blocks (4th, 1.5/gm), offensive rebs 10th, 2.8/gm) and FT %age (10th, .696)
  • Scored in double figures 24 times and posted double-digit rebounds 14 times
  • Was the team’s top scorer five times — Southern Cal, at Alabama, vs. LSU, Syracuse (NCAA), vs. North Carolina (NCAA)
  • Led team in rebounds 16 times — Southern Cal, Clemson, Wisconsin, Charlotte, at Duke, Savannah State, at Hampton, Auburn, at Florida, Texas A&M, Alabama, at Ole Miss, at Arkansas, Mississippi St., vs. Tennessee, vs. North Carolina (NCAA)
  • Was the team’s second-leading scorer in NCAA Tournament action, posting 14.0 points per game on a team-high 68.4 percent shooting
  • Named NCAA Greensboro Region Most Outstanding Player after averaging 16.0 points on 62.5 percent shooting
  • Posted personal 11-5 run early in second half against #7/7 Florida State (Mar. 29) to cut seven-point deficit to one, finishing with second perfect shooting night of the NCAA Tournament
  • Delivered at the free throw line, hitting 10-of-10 against #15/12 North Carolina (Mar. 27), including 6-of-6 in the second half
  • Named to the SEC All-Tournament Team after averaging 10.3 points and 8.0 rebounds over the three-game event
  • Came up with the tough rebounds to stifle any second-half run by #5/5 Tennessee (Mar. 8) in the SEC Championship, reeling in five of her eight in the second half
  • Hit back-to-back buckets to kick off an 18-4 second-half run that turned a one-point game into a 15-point lead against LSU (Mar. 7) in SEC Tournament semifinals
  • Grabbed three of her six rebounds against #6/6 Tennessee (Feb. 23) in final 2:00 to help seal victory
  • Had her best game against a ranked team this season with a double-double against #12/10 Texas A&M (Jan. 26), including nine points and six rebounds in second half to help deliver victory
  • Hit all six of her free throw attempts in final 2:00 at Missouri (Jan. 15) to seal Gamecocks’ win
  • Grabbed pair of rebounds during game-changing 5-0 run midway through 2nd half vs. #10/11 Kentucky (Jan. 11)
  • Snared six of her team-high 10 rebounds at #9/8 Duke (Dec. 7) in the second half, including two defensive in the critical final two minutes of the comeback win

Freshman Year (2013-14)

  • Became first SEC Freshman of the Year in league history to also earn another “of the Year” award with selection as Co-6th Player of the Year from the league’s coaches
  • Named SEC Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press and earned Freshman All-America honors from Full Court
  • Earned Second-Team All-SEC honors and was named SEC Freshman of the Week a league-record-tying five times
  • Played in all 34 games, including one start (LA Tech)
  • Was the only freshman to rank among SEC’s top-25 scorers (23rd) and top-20 rebounders (sixth)
  • Finished third in SEC and 41st in nation with 2.1 blocks per game, ranking her seventh among the nation’s freshmen
  • Was fifth-best rebounding freshman in the country (8.4 rpg)
  • Set Gamecock freshman record with 73 blocked shots to rank second in the all-time single-season standings
  • Also posted program freshman records with .612 (148-242) field goal percentage and 10 double-doubles
  • Led team in scoring seven times (Chas. Southern, at San Diego St., SC State, Vandy, Ole Miss, vs. Georgia, vs. UNC)
  • Led team in rebounding 18 times (LA Tech, Seton Hall, at San Diego St., at USC, NC Central, Sav. St., at Ark., Vandy, UK, at Auburn, Ole Miss, Ark., at LSU, Fla., vs. UK, vs. CSUN, vs. Oregon St., vs. UNC)
  • Averaged double-double in NCAA Tournament play — 14.7 pts/12.7 rebs
  • Lifted scoring and rebounding averages from non-conference play (11.6 pts/7.2 reb) to SEC action (12.7 pts/8.5 rebs)
  • Joined just two other Gamecock freshmen all-time to score 20 or more points in an NCAA Tournament game with her team-high 22 against #12/13 North Carolina (Mar. 30) in the Sweet 16 and completed her 10th double-double of the season with 11 boards, including five offensive
  • Grabbed second-most rebounds by freshman in school history with 16 against CSUN (Mar. 23) in NCAA Tournament
  • Became first freshman to record at least 20 points in an SEC game since Feb. 4, 2010 (Kelsey Bone at Auburn) with her career-high tying 24 against Ole Miss (Jan. 30), making her one of just six Gamecock freshmen all-time to record at least five 20-point games
  • Played just 12 minutes at #16/19 Vanderbilt (Jan. 26) due to foul trouble, but blocked four shots, including three in second half to help secure victory
  • Set Gamecock freshman record with 17 rebounds against #9/10 Kentucky (Jan. 9) and posted fourth-straight double-double
  • Scored 12 of career-high 24 points against Vanderbilt (Jan. 5) during final 10 minutes of first half to help turn two-point deficit into 11-point lead
  • Posted only perfect shooting night by a freshman (minimum five attempts each in program history), hitting 7-of-7 from the field and 9-of-9 free throws against SC State (Dec. 22), with field goal performance tying for fourth in Colonial Life Arena history

High School

  • McDonald’s and a Parade All-American
  • Gatorade South Carolina Player of the Year
  • South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association (SCBCA) Class 4A Player of the Year
  • Charlotte Observer South Carolina Miss Basketball (2012-13)
  • Three-time SCBCA Class 4A all-state selection
  • Posted 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game as a senior (2012-13)
  • Helped team to back-to-back state championships (2012, 2013), including an undefeated 29-0 season as a senior
  • Played five seasons for Coach Faye Norris at Dutch Fork and for Coach Jerome Dickerson’s Palmetto 76ers in AAU

Personal

  • Born April 7, 1995
  • Daughter of Pamela and Gary Coates, has an older brother, Gary
  • Uncle Ben Coates played in the NFL in the 1990s for the New England Patriots and one season for the Baltimore Ravens
  • Majoring in sociology
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