Gamecocks survive foul-fest in Hawaii, improve to 7-0

At Honolulu, Hawaii, second-ranked South Carolina survived a whistle-fest and won its third game in three days on Sunday, 67-51 over host Hawaii. A’ja Wilson was named MVP of the tournament while Bianca Cuevas made the all-tournament team.

The Gamecocks (7-0) pulled away in the second half when their point guards woke up. Khadijah Sessions scored nine of her 11 points in the third period, including a banked-in buzzer-beating 3-pointer from just past midcourt. Cuevas (13 points) played another fine game as she continued to lobby for more minutes in the future.

USC had to have good guard play when its forwards were targeted early and often – not by the Rainbow Wahine, but by the officials. Alaina Coates and Jatarie White had five fouls and no points between them in the first half, Wilson scored a team-high 18 points but fouled out and Sarah Imovbioh had a mere three points.

Coach Dawn Staley was heard on USC’s radio broadcast voicing her displeasure with the officiating, and considering the Gamecocks had four players with at least four fouls each, she seemed to have a point. Hawaii had one player foul out, two with four fouls and one with three.

Wilson and Tiffany Mitchell, who scored 14, carried the Gamecocks to a 29-22 halftime lead. Hawaii (4-3), averaging 20 turnovers a game, was right on its season mark and the Gamecocks began to take advantage.

Steals from Sessions and Cuevas turned into fast breaks as the Gamecocks ballooned the lead from nine to 16 in the third. The whistles continued to blow but USC raced to the finish.

The Gamecocks, who played and won five straight away from home, return to Colonial Life Arena on Dec. 6 to play No. 15 Duke. USC has won 36 straight home games.

SOUTH CAROLINA (7-0)

Sessions 4-5 2-2 11, Wilson 8-15 2-2 18, Roy 0-1 0-0 0, Mitchell 5-10 2-2 14, Coates 1-3 1-2 3, Colley 1-3 0-2 2, Cuevas 5-12 2-4 13, Duckett 0-0 0-0 0, Imovbioh 1-2 1-1 3, Dozier 0-2 3-4 3, White 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 25-55 13-19 67.

HAWAII (4-3)

Toeaina 2-6 0-0 4, Karaitiana 4-15 0-0 10, Adolpho 1-4 3-6 5, Morris 1-4 0-0 2, King 6-9 1-4 15, Wimbley 0-0 0-0 0, Harris 0-4 0-2 0, Le. Salanoa 1-2 0-0 2, Huff 4-6 4-6 13. Totals 19-50 8-18 51.<

Halftime: South Carolina 29-22. 3-Point Goals_South Carolina 4-14 (Mitchell 2-5, Sessions 1-2, Cuevas 1-3, Colley 0-1, Roy 0-1, Dozier 0-2), Hawaii 5-18 (King 2-3, Karaitiana 2-6, Huff 1-3, Le. Salanoa 0-1, Harris 0-2, Toeaina 0-3). Fouled Out_King, Wilson. Rebounds_South Carolina 30 (Wilson 5), Hawaii 33 (Adolpho, King 7). Assists_South Carolina 12 (Sessions 4), Hawaii 11 (Karaitiana, King, Toeaina 3). Total Fouls_South Carolina 22, Hawaii 20. Attendance: 2,073.

This story was originally published November 30, 2015 at 12:12 AM.