COLOMBIA, SC (AP) Zia Cooke scored 21 points and the runner-up, South Carolina, got back on track after her first loss at the Southeast Conference in two seasons, with a 76-55 victory over Kentucky number 17 in 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.
Point guard Destanni Henderson scored 14 points on the Gamecocks’ backcourt, in a game in which central Aliyah Boston finished with four points, the lowest number 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 charge and when Cooke drove to the rim for a tray, he missed and hit the free throw, they were 43-32 and crossing to their room directly over the Wildcats.
Cooke said losing in Tennessee after the 37-21 lead was a “bore” because of how hard they worked. “But we arrived together, we practiced a lot and we knew we would be victorious if we kept the game plan.”
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, as they were left behind by 31-21.
Howard, however, broke free with a pair of 3 points to lead a 9-2 Kentucky burst on the straight and lost just 34-30 in the interval.
South Carolina dulled any hopes of Kentucky’s rally 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 said Howard was the most important person on the court for Kentucky and the Gamecocks made a point of making it difficult for her. “Just brake and focus on what’s in front of us,” she said.
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.
Kentucky coach Kyra Elzy did not think Howard was out of play, instead he gave credit to South Carolina for defending his side of the court to kick away. Elzy said the defeat was both his team’s struggle to recover.
“We didn’t have the stamina we needed to recover,” she said.
THE GREAT IMAGE
Kentucky: The Wildcats have had their problems with South Carolina in 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.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
South Carolina will lose positions in the national ranking for the second consecutive week because of the defeat to Tennessee. Gamecocks were at the top of the ranking two weeks ago, before dropping to second place at UConn on February 8 and dropping to second place. Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said the team has to stay on course and not compromise with those who think that any defeat means trouble. “We can’t believe it because we lost a game, the fund collapses,” she said.
LACK
Kentucky had a hard time getting to the foul line and keeping out of danger. The Wildcats were left behind early on, as they were scored by 12 fouls in the first two quarters. South Carolina had 18 free-throw attempts on this stretch. Kentucky finished 10 of 11 on foul shots while the Gamecocks were 16 of 24 on the line.
NEXT
Kentucky plays at No. 22 Georgia on Thursday night.
South Carolina ends its season at home with Mississippi on Thursday night.