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Aleighsa Welch

  • position F
  • height 6-
  • class Freshman
  • Hometown Goose Creek, S.C.
  • High school Goose Creek
  • position F
  • height 6-
  • class Freshman
  • Hometown Goose Creek, S.C.
  • High school Goose Creek

Aleighsa Welch Bio

2/25/15

From Goose Creek to the Gamecocks, Welch’s legacy runs deep

By David Caraviello (Charleston Post & Courier)

2/25/15

Senior Welch delivers in a big way for USC women

By Matt Connolly (Spartanburg Herald Journal)

12/7/14

Welch a Coach on the Floor for Top-Ranked USC

By David Caraviello (Charleston Post & Courier)

10/21/2014

Aleighsa Welch the glue that cements Gamecocks’ unity

By David Cloninger (The State)

2012-13 Gamecock Spotlight Video

Awards Senior Year (2014-15)
WNBA Draft — Chicago Sky (2nd round, 22nd pick)
All-America Honorable Mention (AP, WBCA)
WBCA All-Region 3
All-SEC First Team (Coaches)
All-SEC Second Team (AP)
SEC Tournament MVP
SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year
SEC Sportsmanship Award
SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll

Junior Year (2013-14)
All-America Honorable Mention (AP, WBCA)
WBCA All-Region 3
All-SEC First Team (Coaches)
All-SEC Second Team (AP)
Capital One Academic All-District III
SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll

Sophomore Year (2012-13)
All-SEC Second Team (Coaches)
All-SEC Honorable Mention (AP)
SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll

Freshman Year (2011-12)
SEC All-Freshman Team
SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll

High School
South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association Class 4A Player of the Year (2010-11)

In the Record Books Career
13th — Points in a career (1,451)
1st — Offensive rebounds in a career (449)
1st — Games played in a career (137)
2nd — Field goal percentage in a career (.577 (560-970)
3rd — Rebounds in a career (956)
3rd — Defensive rebounds in a career (507)
5th — Free throw attempts in a career (545)
5th — Games started in a career (105)
7th — Blocked shots in a career (130)
7th — Free throws made in a career (329)
8th — Minutes played in a career (3,685)
9th — Double-doubles in a career (24)
1st — Rebounds in an SEC career (430)
1st — Offensive rebounds in an SEC career (190)
1st — Blocked shots in an SEC career (73)
2nd — Rebounding average in an SEC career (6.9)
2nd — Defensive rebounds in an SEC career (240)
2nd — Double-doubles in an SEC career (10)
3rd — Minutes played in an SEC career (1,812)
3rd — Games played in an SEC career (62)
4th — Games started in an SEC career (50)
5th — Points in an SEC career (651)
5th — Blocked shots average in an SEC career (1.2)

Season
1st — Games started in a season (37 in 2014-15)
1st — Games played in a season (37 in 2014-15)
2nd — Offensive rebounds in a season (131 in 2012-13)
5th — Offensive rebounds in a season (107 in 2014-15 and in 2013-14)
1st — Offensive rebounds in an SEC season (56 in 2012-13)
2nd — Double-doubles in an SEC season (5 in 2013-14)
3rd — Offensive rebounds in an SEC season (49 in 2013-14)
3rd — Defensive rebounds in an SEC season (85 in 2013-14)
4th — Blocked shots in an SEC season (31 in 2013-14)
4th — Minutes played in an SEC season (533 in 2013-14)
5th — Rebounds in an SEC season (123 in 2013-14)
5th — Minutes played in an SEC season (530 in 2012-13)
Most games started in a senior season (37 in 2014-15)
Most games played in a senior season (37 in 2014-15)
Best field goal percentage in a sophomore season (.598 (134-224) in 2012-13)
Most offensive rebounds in a freshman season (104 in 2011-12)
Most offensive rebounds in a sophomore season (131 in 2012-13)
Most offensive rebounds in a senior season (107 in 2014-15)

Game
3rd — Offensive rebounds in an SEC game (9 vs. Tennessee, 2/23/15 and at Georgia, 2/25/15)
5th — Blocked shots in an SEC game (5 at Kentucky, 2/20/14)
Most free throw attempts by a freshman (15 at Xavier, 11/30/11)

Senior Year (2014-15)

  • Became program’s first SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and voted All-SEC First-Team for second straight season — with Tiffany Mitchell, the first Gamecocks to make multiple appearances on All-SEC First Team since Jocelyn Penn in 2002 and 2003
  • Named the female recipient of the SEC Sportsmanship Award for her immediate, in-game compassion during injuries to two opposing players
  • Started every game
  • Finished among SEC’s top-15 rebounders (13th, 6.5 rpg), offensive rebounders (9th, 2.9) and shot blockers (12th, 1.0)
  • Scored in double figures 17 times and grabbed double-digit rebounds seven times
  • Led the team in rebounding 11 times — Kentucky, at Missouri, at Georgia, at UConn, LSU, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, vs. LSU, vs. Tennessee, Syracuse (NCAA), vs. Notre Dame (NCAA)
  • Posted a team-best 7.2 rebounds per game in NCAA Tournament action (5 games)
  • Capped a 13-0 surge with a layup that put the Gamecocks up by one with 1:12 to play against #2/2 Notre Dame (Apr. 5) in the national semifinals, scoring six of her 10 points and grabbing three of her nine offensive rebounds during the run
  • Scored all seven of her points against #7/7 Florida State (Mar. 29) in the second half, including the first four of the period and the game-tying basket with 2:42 left to play
  • Posted 11 points and seven rebounds in first half against Syracuse (Mar. 22) en route to fourth double-double in last 12 games
  • Recorded third perfect 6-of-6 shooting night of her career for 12 points against Savannah State (Mar. 20)
  • Named SEC Tournament MVP after averaging 10.3 points and 7.3 rebounds at the event (3 games)
  • Scored half of the Gamecocks’ points in an 8-0 run to close the first half against #5/5 Tennessee (Mar. 8) in the SEC Tournament championship, turning a five-point deficit into a three-point lead at the break then added six of the first eight points of the second half
  • Posted her third double-double in the last 10 games with 11 points and 10 rebounds against LSU (Mar. 7) in SEC Tournament semifinals, including defensive rebounds on three straight Lady Tiger possessions to open the 18-4 second-half run that decided the game
  • Sparked 17-3 run late at #13/15 Kentucky (Mar. 1) with back-to-back buckets around a rebound, despite battling stomach flu for the second day
  • Scored six points during 12-5 run that built 11-point lead over #6/6 Tennessee (Feb. 23) midway through the second half as part of her double-double that included career-high-tying nine offensive rebounds
  • Handed out career-high five assists against LSU (Feb. 12) while also leading team in rebounding
  • Owned the glass at #22/21 Georgia (Feb. 23) with season-high 14 boards, including career-high nine offensive
  • Scored three of the last six points in the first half against #12/10 Texas A&M and recorded one of her two blocks to stop a 2-on-1 break early in the second half
  • Scored nine of her 11 points against #22/22 Syracuse (Nov. 28) in the first half to keep the Orange within striking distance … blocked a shot late in the game to hold off the Orange and become just the 10th Gamecock to record at least 100 career blocks

Junior Year (2013-14)

  • Earned honors from SEC coaches for the third-straight season, grabbing a spot on the All-SEC First Team
  • Named WBCA All-Region 3, going on to claim honorable mention All-America honors from the organization
  • Became 29th Gamecock to reach 1,000 career points
  • Shot at least 50.0 percent from field in all but seven games on the season (five of which were at least 40.0 percent)
  • Ranked 14th in the nation and second in SEC in field goal percentage
  • In SEC play, ranked 18th in ppg, ninth in rpg, fifth in blocks (1.9) and sixth in offensive rebounds (3.1 Orpg)
  • Posted nine double-doubles to rank fifth in the SEC
  • Led the team in scoring 10 times — LA Tech, at Clemson, vs. UNC, at Texas A&M, at Miss. St., Arkansas, at LSU, at UK, at Tenn., vs. Oregon St.)
  • Paced the team in rebounding 13 times — Chas. Sthrn., LA Tech, CofC, Seton Hall, at Clemson, vs. UNC, at Texas A&M, Ala., at Miss. St., at UK, at Tenn., vs. UGA, vs. Oregon St.)
  • Posted fourth 20-point game of season with 21 against Oregon State (Mar. 25), including 12 in first half
  • Scored four of her 12 points against Florida (Feb. 23) in a 90-second stretch after Gators cut lead to seven with four minutes left in game
  • Recorded SEC career high with 21 points at #15/15 Kentucky (Feb. 20), including six of team’s first nine to set tone early, and tied career high with five blocks
  • Hit two field goals and a pair of free throws in the second half at #19/17 LSU (Feb. 16) to turn away the Lady Tigers three times when they came within striking distance
  • Poured in 20 points at #25/21 Texas A&M (Jan.16), including six of team’s first 10 2nd-half points to launch rally from 17-point halftime deficit
  • Had fourth double-double of season against #9/10 Kentucky (Jan. 9), adding 11 points and 10 rebounds in the second half alone to hold off Wildcats’ surge
  • Went 5-of-6 from free throw line, grabbed a defensive rebound and blocked a shot in final five minutes of game to hold off Vanderbilt (Jan. 5)
  • Blocked four shots at Arkansas (Jan. 2) and hit a tough shot in traffic to end seven-minute scoring drought in second half that let Razorbacks cut deficit in half
  • Scored all 18 of her points at Charlotte (Dec. 8) in the second half, driving team to road win after sitting all but the first six minutes of the first half due to foul trouble

Sophomore Year (2012-13)

  • Earned her first All-SEC nod with a spot on the second team
  • Started every game
  • Ranked second in school history with 131 offensive rebounds on the season, becoming one of three Gamecocks all-time to have multiple seasons with at least 100
  • Set the school record with 56 offensive boards in the SEC regular season
  • Led the SEC in offensive rebounds per game (4.0), ranked eighth in total rebounds per game and was 22nd in scoring
  • Had 10 double-doubles, scored in double figures 21 times, including a 20-point game, and pulled down double-digit rebounds 12 times
  • Was the team’s top scorer 11 times — Savannah St., vs. Hampton, at Seton Hall, Stanford, Miss. St., Vandy, at Georgia, at Alabama, at Kentucky, Miss. St., vs. Kansas
  • Led the team in rebounding 10 times — at LA Tech, Savannah St., vs. FGCU, Drexel, SC State, Miss. St., at Florida, Miss. St., at Missouri, Florida
  • Scored nine of her 16 points against Kansas (March 25) in the NCAA Tournament Second Round in the second half, including a personal 6-0 run that tied the game at 65-65 with 6:39 left to play
  • Netted 10 of her 14 points against Florida (March 3) in the second half, highlighted by six during an 8-0 run that put the game away
  • Was perfect from the field and free throw line at Ole Miss (Feb. 17) en route to 11 points
  • Scored 10 of team-high 15 points at No. 9/7 Kentucky (Feb. 14) early in second half to hold off Wildcat surge
  • Hit a pair of free throws in final minute to seal win over Auburn (Feb. 3)
  • Blocked three shots at Arkansas (Jan. 27), including potential game-tying attempt in final 10 seconds
  • Made four free throws in final minute to seal win against LSU (Jan. 17) to cap off 14-point, seven-rebound effort
  • Put up 19 points at #13/12 Georgia (Jan. 13), hitting 8-of-10 from the field, and made the play that resulted in a pair of Sancheon White free throws to pull Gamecocks within a point in the final 45 seconds
  • Scored 13 of her 17 points against #1/1 Stanford (Dec. 19) in the second half, including a free throw to tie the game with 1:14 left to play
  • Named Paradise Jam MOP, averaging 10.3 points and 9.3 rebounds to guide team to Reef Division title
  • Posted first career double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds against Savannah State (Nov. 15)

Freshman Year (2011-12)

  • Named to the SEC All-Freshman Team by the league’s coaches
  • Played in 33 games, including two starts
  • Was 13th in the SEC in rebounding, second among league freshmen
  • Pulled in six or more offensive rebounds five times — Penn State, at Xavier, Furman, Vanderbilt, vs. Stanford — all of which are among the top-five performances by a freshman in South Carolina history
  • Led the team in rebounding a team-high 16 times — Alabama A&M, at Clemson, CofC, at Xavier, Furman, SC State, vs. North Carolina, Alabama, at Vanderbilt, at Tennessee, at Arkansas, Florida, vs. Alabama, vs. Eastern Michigan, at Purdue, vs. Stanford
  • Was the team’s top scorer four times — at NC State, Savannah State, Vanderbilt, at LSU
  • Posted double-figure points 10 times and pulled down double-digit rebounds twice
  • Led team with 7.0 rebounds per NCAA Tournament game with 12 of her 21 boards coming on the offensive end
  • Ripped down a career-high 12 rebounds against #2/2 Stanford’s vaunted front line in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game with eight of those on the offensive end, the second-most by a Gamecock freshman in school history
  • Turned in 4.7 rebounds and 3.7 points per SEC Tournament game after missing last two games of regular season with injury
  • Earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors on Jan. 9 for her week of 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game to help team defeat Vanderbilt and Florida
  • Paced the team with nine rebounds at #25/22 Vanderbilt, including two in heavy traffic in the waning seconds of overtime to help secure the victory
  • Scored a season-high 19 points in win over #24/21 Vanderbilt, thanks largely to six offensive rebounds against a taller Vanderbilt front line
  • Posted her first career double-digit rebound game in her SEC debut against Alabama, also scoring nine points in the contest to narrowly miss her first career double-double
  • Scored 16 points at Xavier, hitting 10 free throws — second-most ever by a Gamecock freshman — on 15 attempts — tied for the South Carolina freshman record

High School

  • Named South Carolina Miss Basketball and South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association 4A Player of the Year honors (2010-11)
  • Was a three-time all-state and four-time all-region selection
  • Earned Player of the Year honors from the Charleston Post & Courier three times
  • Was tabbed Lowcountry player of the year as a senior (2010-11)
  • Turned in 19 points and 11 rebounds per game her final season at Goose Creek
  • Guided team to its first state basketball championship with a 36-point, 15-rebound effort against Spring Valley in the title game her junior year (2009-10) after also playing in the state title game in 2011 as well
  • Helped team to 20 or more wins all four seasons she played, compiling a 102-11 record
  • Played four years for Coach Tim Baldwin’s Gators

Personal

  • Daughter of Ernesto and Sharell Welch, has an older brother, Ernesto
  • Graduated in May 2015 with a degree in sport and entertainment management
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