TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alaina Coates scored 20 points and No. 1 South Carolina had six players in double figures in a 102-59 win over Alabama Thursday night.
The Gamecocks (15-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) made 19 of 21 field goals during a couldn’t-miss stretch extending well into the second half. They have breezed to wins in their first three SEC games by a collective 86 points and have won their last 10 meetings with Alabama (11-7, 0-3).
South Carolina made 37 of 58 field goals (63.8 percent). Tiffany Mitchell scored 16 points for the Gamecocks and Asia Dozier added 15.
It was South Carolina’s third 100-point game of the season, continuing the program’s best start and longest winning streak. It’s the first time the Gamecocks have reached triple digits in an SEC game.
Alabama leading scorer Ashley Williams was injured in the second half. She was placed on a backboard wearing a neck brace, but waved at the fans as she was being carted off. She had 10 points.
Meoshonti Knight led Alabama with 16 points.
The Gamecocks never cooled off and got 55 points off the bench, led by Coates.
Coates made 7 of 8 shots and blocked three shots in 21 minutes. A’ja Wilson, the reigning SEC freshman of the week, and Tina Roy each scored 11 points for the Gamecocks.
Aleighsa Welch was 5-of-6 shooting for 10 points and has only missed two shots in the first three SEC games (14-of-16).
Roy, Mitchell and Dozier each made three 3-pointers, and the Gamecocks were 11 of 21 from beyond the arc.
The Gamecocks made their last 11 field goals to take a 48-30 lead into halftime. The streak didn’t end until Dozier’s 3-point attempt to start the second half, also her first miss of the game.
Dozier scored South Carolina’s first eight points on two 3-pointers and a long jump shot, nearly doubling her 4.4-point average in the first five minutes.
TIP-INS
South Carolina: The Gamecocks made 17 of 20 free throws. They committed seven turnovers and forced 17.
Alabama: The Tide was 7-of-25 shooting in the second half (28 percent). Knight was 8 of 11 from the free throw line.
NEXT UP
South Carolina: Hosts No. 10 Kentucky on Sunday.
Alabama: Visits Mississippi on Sunday.
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