TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) Destanni Henderson had 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists to lead South Carolina’s No. 5 in the 77-60 victory over Alabama on Monday night.
Crimson Tide reduced the deficit to eight points at the end of the third quarter, but Zia Cooke scored nine of his 18 total points during the final 11 minutes to keep the Gamecocks (7-1, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) in almost complete control in the final stretch.
South Carolina’s starting lineup was an average 1.6 inches taller than their counterparts on the Crimson Tide roster, and Gamecocks certainly took full advantage of that advantage in this one.
South Carolina had more rebounds in attack (26) than Crimson Tide did in defense (24), giving Gamecocks a decisive 55-31 lead.
This allowed Gamecocks to score twice as many second chance points (22) as Alabama (11).
Jordan Lewis set his career record with 28 points for Alabama (8-1, 1-1), surpassing his previous best score of 27 against Missouri on Thursday.
CHALLENGING PLAYER
Crimson Tide prevented Carolina from finding a flow and kept the game tight at the start. With Carolina leading 26-21 sophomore year Aliyah Boston started an 11-5 run to close the first half, during which Destanni Henderson recorded the Gamecocks’ last six points in the fourth to take a 37-26 lead for the break.
KEY STAT
The Gamecocks dominated the boards, overtaking Alabama by 55-31, and actually flexed their muscles in the offensive glass with a 26-7 lead, leading to 22 second-chance points.
NOTABLES
- South Carolina beat Crimson Tide 55-31, scoring the third time in the last four games the Gamecocks won the plate battle by at least 20 points.
- Gamecocks had a 20-point scorer for the third time in so many games.
- Junior Destanni Henderson took over when the team needed it most, closing the second quarter with six consecutive points, and kept the pressure high with another seven in the third on its way to a career record in the SEC of 20 points, with its eight rebounds and five assists.
- Second year Zia Cooke kept any Alabama rally under control, scoring 11 of his 18 points in the second half, including consecutive buckets in the third quarter for a 3:23 goalless streak for the Gamecocks.
- Junior Victaria Saxton did a bit of everything on Monday, scoring 15 points, his six rebounds, a block and a steal. All six of his rebounds were on the offensive side, equaling his career record, and resulted in six of his 15 points.
- Second year Brea Beal recovered rebounds in the first half, achieving eight of his ten rebounds in the first half.
NEXT
The 5/4 Gamecocks (7-1, 2-0 SEC) returns to Columbia to host Georgia (9-1, 1-1 SEC) on Thursday. The tipoff is scheduled for 19h at Colonial Life Arena, with the game broadcast by SEC Network +.