South Carolina tops Auburn for 30th straight victory

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) – Zia Cooke had 15 points and four assists in 20 minutes to lead No.

The Gamecocks (24-0, 11-0 Southeastern Conference) dominated from the start in a game sandwiched between a pair of top-5 matchups. They are coming off an 81-77 win over No. 4 UConn and host No. 3 LSU on Saturday.

Aliyah Boston had 10 points and eight rebounds for South Carolina before exiting with 8:54 left to end eight straight double-doubles. Victaria Saxton scored six of the Gamecocks’ first eight points and finished with 10. Kierra Fletcher had nine points and five assists.

South Carolina beat Auburn 50-26 and had 11 players score.

Sydney Shaw tied her career high with 15 points and made 3 of 4 3-pointers to lead the Tigers (13-10, 3-8). Auburn played without leading scorer and rebounder Aicha Coulibaly, who sat out with a foot injury. Mar’shaun Bostic added 10 points.

No. 2 scorer Honesty Scott-Grayson was held to four points on 2-of-11 shooting.

South Carolina doubled up Auburn in the first half, 42-21, after scoring the first eight points of the second quarter.

It doesn’t come close.

The Gamecocks made 34 of 69 shots (49.3%). Auburn was 19-of-61 shooting (31.1%) against the nation’s top scoring defense.

Noted

• South Carolina’s win over the Tigers marked the Gamecocks’ 30th straight victory, setting a new program record since March 18, 2022, NCAA Tournament wins in the first round.
• The Gamecocks’ 83-48 victory was the 13th game this season decided by 30 points or more.
• South Carolina continued its presence in the paint, posting 52 points inside compared to the Tigers 48 total points.
• Eleven Gamecocks scored in the game, with three finishing in double digits.
• Zia Cooke led the way with her 19th game of the season in double figures. Eight of his 15 points came in the third quarter, including three to give the Gamecocks a 25-point lead.
• Victaria Saxton finished with 10 points for the fourth time this season, hitting six of South Carolina’s first eight and going a perfect 4-of-4 at the free throw line.
• Aliyah Boston posted her 10th straight game with at least 10 points, adding four to a 13-5 run by the Gamecocks to end the second quarter.
• Kierra Fletcher finished with an SEC career – high nine points highlighted by three in the third quarter, in addition to a team-high five assists.

Until Next Time

No. 1 South Carolina hosts No. 3 LSU at No. 2 PMET at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, SC on Saturday, February 12.