Gamecocks’ late momentum bests Bulls in second round

COLUMBIA, SC (AP) – Zia Cooke scored 21 points and Aliyah Boston had her 81st career double-double as top-seeded South Carolina began to slowly dominate eighth-seeded South Florida and into the Sweet 16 with a 76-45 victory Sunday.

The Gamecocks improved to 34-0 with their 40th straight win overall and moved four wins away from a second straight national title. They will head to Greenville, where they won the Southeastern Conference Tournament two weeks ago, to play for a spot in the Final Four.

Boston, the program’s career record holder for double-doubles, finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds, exiting his final home game to a standing ovation.

South Florida (27-7) entered looking for a program-record 28th win of the season and first berth in the Sweet 16, but after a feisty start, couldn’t hang with the Gamecocks.

Elena Tsineke, only 5-of-16 shooting in Saturday’s OT victory against Marquette, scored seven of the Bulls’ first 10 points on the way to a 16-12, first-quarter lead in front of an edgy crowd in South Carolina’s home court.

But Boston, an All-American and two-time Southeastern Conference player of the year, took over in the second period.

His inside basket put South Carolina ahead to stay 21-20 as it outscored the Bulls 21-13 in the period. And Boston wasn’t just active offensively, they got their second defense diving down the floor to chase free basketballs.

Late in the second quarter, the 6-foot-5 Boston stopped a drive by Maria Alvarez near the basket, then ran out to the sideline to double team Emma Johansson into a turnover.

The Gamecocks, outrebounded 10-9 in the first 10 minutes, took control of the glass after that, finishing with a comfortable 52-28 edge.

South Florida made just five of 28 shots in the final 20 minutes and was held to its lowest point total of the season, 25 below its season average.

Tsinkeke led the Bulls with 20 points. Fankam Mendjiadeu was held to just four points on 2-of-9 shooting.

Noted

• South Carolina’s win over South Florida marked South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley’s 400th career win.
• The Gamecocks will advance to the Sweet 16 for the 12th time in program history, including each of the last nine tournaments.
• Defense held up to a reputation, holding the Bulls to just 13.3 percent shooting in the third quarter (2-of-15).
• Zia Cooke exploded offensively, scoring her eighth game with 20 or more points … 12 of her 21 came in the second half on 50.0 percent shooting from the field, including a three-pointer as part of a 13-4 run in the finals. a quarter.
• Aliyah Boston had the first three points on the board for the Gamecocks and ended the game with her 81st career double-double after grabbing 11 rebounds and 11 points, nine of which came in the first half.
• Laeticia Amihere had a strong fourth quarter, scoring eight of her 11 points, including six in a 12-0 run to post her second shutout of the season.
• Victaria Saxton was a blocking machine, scoring a team high of four with two in each half.