#1 South Carolina Gets a Winning Statement Against #2 UConn


The Gamecocks, by contrast, played sharp and returned to their signature defense in the second half, allowing Connecticut to score just 3 points against tight man-to-man coverage in the fourth quarter.

Young forward Aliyah Boston nearly doubled in the first half and finished the game with 22 points and 15 rebounds—the kind of performance South Carolina relied on her to deliver over the course of the season.

“It’s time for Aliyah Boston to become the dominant player,” Staley said.

Guards Zia Cooke and Destanni Henderson are the other two keys to the South Carolina offense. Cooke had 17 points on circus shots, while Henderson’s veteran insight was evident in the fast-pass baskets and a well-balanced streak of 15 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 steals.

Overall, the team demonstrated its depth and ample room to grow. For example, if the Gamecocks could further incorporate Kamilla Cardoso, a 6-foot transfer from Syracuse, into the paint, they might have an easy answer for a tough domestic defense like Connecticut’s.

This was the first big test of the season for the Huskies. UConn guard Paige Bueckers, the team’s leading scorer, scored several notable baskets, and the Huskies’ ball movement in the first half looked almost superior. he Yet the rhythm fell apart in the second half, only when Bueckers took multiple shots.

Once Connecticut reduces some of its core mistakes, it will have plenty of snipers ready to help. Redshirt top guard Evina Westbrook sparked the early Connecticut offense and was the team’s second top scorer. With more opportunities, he can handle some of the Bueckers’ offensive load.

Azzi Fudd, a respected freshman, barely played on Monday after scoring 18 points against the University of South Florida on Sunday, which Auriemma attributed to South Carolina’s inability to act in its stifling defense. Despite spending more time in the major leagues of college basketball, Fudd can become a consistent scoring threat.



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