South Carolina women’s sophomore basketball striker Aliyah Boston won a spot on the Associated Press All-America First Team, the organization announced today. AP joins ESPN, which named it First Team All-American last week.
The SEC’s co-defensive player of the year and member of the most recent watch list for each national player award of the year, Boston’s 15 doubles teams rank ninth in the country and include eight against nationally ranked opponents. She is among the 15 best in the country in rebounds per game (2.85, 12th) and rebounds per game (11.7, 14th), and is in 18th position in offensive rebounds per game (4.0).
USC Athletics Communications and Public Relations
Boston has been the anchor of the Gamecocks throughout the season and continues to intensify their game. His 19.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game in the SEC Tournament led South Carolina to its second consecutive title and sixth in the past seven seasons. She extended her doubles streak to four consecutive games and was named SEC Tournament MVP in the process.
Boston averages 13.7 points and 11.7 rebounds this season. Its production increases against opponents classified to 14.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. With eight games of four or more shots blocked, including the program’s first triple-double against a SEC opponent and the first against a ranked opponent (vs. Georgia, Jan. 21), Boston is also a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and finalist for the Lisa Leslie Award, which she won last season.
Gaining seed # 1 in the Hemisfair region, the No. 6/5 Gamecocks open the 2021 NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 21, playing Mercer at 6 pm ET on ESPN.