Strong start: South Carolina out-muscles Arkansas in Gamecocks’ SEC tournament opener
No. 1 South Carolina women’s basketball will play another day in Nashville, defeating the No. 8-seed Arkansas Razorbacks 76-54 Friday in the 2022 SEC women’s basketball tournament quarterfinals.
Dawn Staley’s top-ranked Gamecocks (28-1) won behind a dominant performance from star forward Aliyah Boston and a solid effort in the paint.
South Carolina scored 42 of its 76 points in the paint, while Boston finished the game with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Laeticia Amihere added 16 points off the bench.
The Razorbacks (18-13) were led by Samara Spencer, who scored 10 points, and Makayla Daniels, who scored nine.
“(South Carolina) plays together, it’s just the total package,” Arkansas head coach Mike Neighbors said after the game. “There may be a day that they’re off, but you’re gonna have to beat them. They’re not beating themselves.”
South Carolina will face No. 4 Ole Miss in the tournament semifinals Saturday afternoon at Bridgestone Arena.
Here’s what we learned about the Gamecocks.
Strong first quarter keeps the Gamecocks ahead
A dominant opening period for the Gamecocks kept them with a lead throughout the contest, even when the Razorbacks improved their shooting down the stretch.
South Carolina finished the first quarter with a 12-point lead behind 40% shooting, with Zia Cooke scoring six points and Laeticia Amihere adding four in the period. The Gamecocks heated back up in the fourth quarter, going 50% from the field in the game’s final 10 minutes.
“I think now (Amihere is) adjusted to, ‘This is what it is,’ ” Staley said. “I think she’s slowing down. The game is coming a little bit clearer to her, and she’s able to utilize her entire skill set.”
The Gamecocks cooled down from the field in the middle quarters, shooting 37.5% in the second and 20% in the third, but a solid defensive effort never allowed the Razorbacks to go on a run better than 6-0.
South Carolina stepped on the gas in the fourth quarter, outscoring Arkansas 20-13.
“We’ve got a seasoned team,” Staley said. “They really lock into the personnel. They really lock in on the tendencies that we’ll face.”
Boston’s double-double streak continues
National Player of the Year candidate Aliyah Boston added to her resume with a 22nd consecutive double-double against Arkansas.
Boston, who continues to build upon her SEC all-time record, grabbed her 10th rebound with 2:46 to go in the third quarter.
“I’m just trying to be dominant,” Boston said. “That’s scoring the basketball and rebounding, so I’m just trying to make sure I do that.”
Boston, who won the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year honor Monday, showed exactly why she earned the honor against Arkansas with five steals and two blocks.
Boston’s dominance on the boards contributed to South Carolina’s 54-37 rebounding advantage. USC used its 20 offensive rebounds to score 19 second-chance points.
Turnover trouble returns
South Carolina had kept its ball security problems largely in check through the end of its conference slate, improving a minus-1.9 turnover margin to plus-2.0 in its last five games.
The Gamecocks and Razorbacks both turned the ball over 17 times, and Arkansas scored 11 off USC miscues.
Before Friday, the Gamecocks hadn’t committed more than 13 turnovers in a game since playing Kentucky on Feb. 10.
SEC tournament schedule
SEMIFINALS — Saturday
Game 11: No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 4 Ole Miss — 5 p.m., ESPNU
Game 12: No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 3 Tennessee — 7:30 p.m., ESPNU
FINAL — Sunday
Game 13: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner — 2 p.m., ESPN
This story was originally published March 4, 2022 at 2:55 PM.
