Cooke, No. 1 Gamecocks overcome slow start to down UT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Zia Cooke scored 19 points and Kierra Fletcher 15 as No. 1 South Carolina destroyed Tennessee’s pack-the-cat strategy in a 73-60 victory Friday night.

The Gamecocks (28-0, 15-0 Southeastern Conference) won at least a tie for the regular-season conference title.

The Lady Volunteers (20-10, 12-3) jammed the middle, trying to limit opportunities for star Aliyah Boston and dared the Gamecocks to beat from the perimeter. Boston finished with 11 points.

Fletcher and Cooke combined to hit 5 of 8 3-pointers, with Cooke scoring all the points after being held scoreless in the first quarter.

The Gamecocks dominated rebounding 48-34, with 20 on the offensive glass. Kamilla Cardoso had 15 boards and Brea Beal had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Rickea Jackson scored 21 points for Tennessee, which led 19-10 after the opening quarter. Jordan Horston had 14 points and 11 rebounds and Karoline Striplin added 11 points.

Nine third quarter points, five by Fletcher, turned a close game into a two-point lead.

South Carolina had a 17-point run in the second quarter as it rallied from 10 down to later take a 33-29 halftime lead. Cooke scored eight straight points in that stretch.

The Lady Vols were held scoreless for more than 6 minutes before Striplin hit a 3-pointer just before the break.

The Gamecocks went the final 4:44 of the first quarter without scoring as Tennessee built a 19-10 lead.

Noted

• The Gamecocks turned the tide in the second quarter after a 19-10 deficit, going on a 17-0 run and outscoring the Lady Vols 23-10 to build a four-point lead at the half. South Carolina’s defense did the work, forcing four turnovers and grabbing 18 rebounds in the period.
• Cooke led the way offensively for the 14th time in 28 games this season, went on an 8-0 run of his own in the second quarter with three back-to-back threes, and scored 11 of his 19 points in the second half on 5-of-8 shooting from the field and knocked down three thirds. from the game.
• Kierra Fletcher had a dominant night, putting up a new SEC career high of 15 points highlighted by going 2-of-2 from the 3-point line and scoring five in an 8-0 run by the Gamecocks to end the third quarter.
• Brea Beal recorded her second double-double of her career, posting 11 points and 11 rebounds, with a career-high six rebounds… Her five assists marked her team-leading 11th of the season in that category.
• Aliyah Boston scored her 13th double-double in her last 14 games, scoring the game’s first four points for South Carolina and securing a night-high four blocks.