By TYLER WALDREP
The Associated Press
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – After helping to prepare his teammates in the last game in South Carolina, it was Destanni Henderson’s turn to stand out.
Henderson had 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists to lead Gamecocks from fifth place in the 77-60 victory over Alabama on Monday night.
“She pressed the pace and when she’s playing fast and downhill, she’s a strong guard,” said South Carolina coach Dawn Staley. “I mean, there were times (tonight) when she is playing spectacularly. It was great to see her start.”
Henderson, who had just two points with nine assists against Florida last Thursday, finished just three points and a rebound less than equaling his career record against Alabama.
Crimson Tide reduced the deficit to eight points at the end of the third quarter, but Zia Cooke scored nine of his 18 points during the final 11 minutes to keep the Gamecocks (7-1, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) in almost complete control of the stretch. .
Staley said Cooke appeared to have a hard time adjusting to the Nike ball during the first three quarters on Monday night. Gamecocks usually work with a Wilson ball, which Staley said requires a slightly different grip.
Cooke and the Gamecocks also struggled to contain Alabama veteran Jordan Lewis, who set his career record with 28 points for Crimson Tide (8-1, 1-1), surpassing his previous record of 27 against Missouri in Thursday.
“We didn’t stop it,” said Staley. “We just slowed it down and let it go a little bit more than it was doing in the third quarter. So, there are some glimpses of it, a really good move. We know so that we can achieve what we are trying to achieve, it has to be 90 percent of the game or people will win it. “
Lewis did most of his damage in the third quarter, when he scored 13 points. It seemed that all of Alabama’s offensive possessions during that stretch began and ended with the veteran entering the basket.
“We just need to move on,” Alabama coach Kristy Curry said after the team’s first defeat of the season. “It was no adjustment. It was just our kids starting to see that I need to be me.”
South Carolina’s starting team was an average 1.6 inches taller than their Crimson Tide counterparts, and that difference seemed decisive, especially in the first half.
South Carolina had more rebounds in attack (26) than Crimson Tide did in defense (24), giving Gamecocks a decisive 55-31 overall advantage.
This allowed Gamecocks to score twice as many second chance points (22) as Alabama (11).
“I’m not really focused on today,” said Staley. “I’m looking at the big picture.” We are looking further ahead because we know that if we stay where we are today, we will leave the SEC tournament early and we will not have the chance to defend our regular season championship at the SEC. “
BIG PICTURE
South Carolina: The Gamecocks have now defeated four consecutive opponents by at least 16 points, since the team lost eight points to No. 3 NC State on December 3.
Alabama: Monday’s defeat was the first time Crimson Tide failed to score at least 74 points this season.
NEXT
South Carolina hosts Georgia on Thursday night. Gamecocks have not dropped a game for Bulldogs since the 2012-13 campaign.
Alabama hosts LSU on Thursday. Crimson Tide have lost their last three games against Tigers since the 2017-18 season.