South Carolina women's basketball beats Alabama, extends longest win streak in program history
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — South Carolina women's basketball continued its dominant SEC streak with an 65-52 victory over Alabama on Sunday in Tuscaloosa.
The No. 1 Gamecocks (21-0, 9-0 SEC) are one of just two undefeated teams remaining in Division I women's basketball, and the win against the Crimson Tide (16-6, 5-4) is the team's 27th consecutively dating back to March 2022. It is the longest winning streak in program history, surpassing a 26-game streak in 2019-20.
Alabama challenged the reigning national champions in the first half: the Gamecocks led by just two after the first quarter, and both star guard Brittany Davis and forward Sarah Ashlee Barker logged double-digit points before halftime. However, South Carolina never gave up the lead wire-to-wire and was consistent offensively with no more than 17 points and no fewer than 15 in a quarter.
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Aliyah Boston dominates in victory
Boston entered the matchup averaging 24 minutes per game, but she showed off what she can do with more time in 31 minutes against Alabama. The reigning national player of the year put up her seventh consecutive double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Despite facing quadruple-team defense in the paint, Boston did not go to the free throw line once and had her second-best shooting performance of the season going 8-of-10 from the field. The senior superstar also tied her season high in blocks with four and assists with four.
Bench brings much-needed energy
Coach Dawn Staley gave the starting lineup a longer leash than usual, keeping the group in for the first seven minutes of the game for just the second time this season. After Alabama tied the game at 10, the trio of Laeticia Amihere, Raven Johnson and Kamilla Cardoso checked in to help open up the Gamecocks' 33-26 halftime lead.
Bree Hall, who came off the bench even later in the rotation, was a standout on both ends of the court. She scored a career-high 18 points with four rebounds, an assist and a steal. The sophomore shot 54% from the field and led the team shooting 50% on 3-pointers.
Gamecocks struggle with Alabama's offensive stars
Defense is usually the biggest strength for South Carolina, but the Gamecocks struggled against Alabama's biggest offensive weapons. Davis, the Tide's leading scorer, had eight in first quarter alone and 11 at halftime, though she finished with just 13 after South Carolina's halftime adjustments. Even Brea Beal, who was named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watchlist, struggled to guard Davis in the first half.
Barker, who averages six points per game, had her second best offensive performance of the season with a team-high 15 points, 12 of which she scored before halftime.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina women's basketball beats Alabama, extends win streak
