COLOMBIA, SC (AP) – Zia Cooke scored 21 points, and runner-up South Carolina was back on track after her first loss at the Southeast Conference in two seasons, with a 76-55 victory over Kentucky number 17 on Sunday .
The Gamecocks (18-3, 13-1 SEC) defeated 31 consecutive league opponents before exploding a double-digit lead in the second half for No. 21 Tennessee last Thursday night.
Cooke and South Carolina’s petty defense ensured it would not be two consecutive defeats. The Gamecocks held Rhyne Howard with 12 points out of 2 out of 11 shots, while senior LeLe Grissett followed the Kentucky star for much of the game.
Goalkeeper Destanni Henderson scored 14 points on the Gamecocks’ backcourt, which took control in a game in which central Aliyah Boston finished with four points, the lowest of the season, nine less than his average.
South Carolina burst quickly in the second half, when Grissett and Henderson made baskets to open a 38-30 lead.
A time-out from Kentucky (15-6, 8-5) in less than a minute did not stop the Gamecocks from charging and when Cooke drove up to the rim for a tray, he missed and hit the free throw, they won 43-32 and crossing to their room directly over the Wildcats.
Kentucky came in pointing to this one. After all, the Wildcats had a nine-point lead at home in South Carolina last month, before dropping 75-70.
But they failed to overcome South Carolina’s relentless defensive pressure. The Wildcats scored just eight field goals and Howard did not score goals in the first 17 minutes, losing by 31-21.
Howard, however, broke free with a pair of 3 points to lead a Kentucky 9-2 burst on the straight and lost just 34-30 in the interval.
South Carolina has dulled any hope of a Kentucky recovery with its quick start to the third quarter. The Gamecocks held Howard for just six false kicks in the final 20 minutes, when she missed all six attempts at her field goal after the break.
Grissett, the team’s only veteran honored before the complaint, had 13 points and Laeticia Amihere had 12 points and 12 rebounds for her third double-double this season.
THE GREAT IMAGE
Kentucky: The Wildcats have had their problems with South Carolina for the past few seasons, losing 13 of the past 14. When Howard fights like the Gamecocks, things get a lot harder for Kentucky.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks played more through Boston and, although she didn’t score much, the ball flowed more smoothly for Cooke and Henderson outside for open eyes. Boston still had an impact with 10 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals.
NEXT
Kentucky plays at No. 22 Georgia on Thursday night.
South Carolina ends its season at home with Mississippi on Thursday night.