The first two times the South Carolina women's basketball team took on the Kentucky Wildcats this season, they had to battle it out for 40 minutes to pull out victories. That wasn't the case Saturday, as Kentucky led for just 21 seconds while the Gamecocks cruised to a 93-63 win.
"I do think that was the best game we've played this season," sophomore forward A'ja Wilson said. "It's just a rivalry game."
The game got out to a quick start, with South Carolina making eight of its first 11 shots on the way to a 23-16 lead at the end of the first quarter. Senior guard Asia Dozier was a key component of the start, racking up five assists in the first five minutes of the game. Dozier would go on to finish with nine assists, besting her previous career-high of six.
There was no shortage of offense from the Gamecocks, as five players finished in double figures, led by 20 from senior guard Tiffany Mitchell. Sophomore guard Bianca Cuevas made a nice contribution off the bench, scoring 13 points on 5-6 shooting in the second half alone to help put the game away.
As always, the Gamecocks had control in the paint. In addition to winning the rebound battle 38-29, junior center Alaina Coates and sophomore forward A'ja Wilson combined for 31 points, while Coates posted a double-double with 10 boards.
Despite being so dominant in the paint, South Carolina was lights out from behind the three-point line. The Gamecocks made 12 of their 22 attempts from deep, including making four straight in just over two minutes of game time in the fourth quarter.
"We could've tried to shoot with our eyes closed, and it would probably would've went in," Mitchell said. "That's how good we were feeling."
The team's excellence from beyond the arc is even more impressive considering senior guard Tina Roy, the team's three-point specialist, did not enter the game until the final minute of the third quarter. Roy still made her contribution however, making three triples in the fourth quarter to finish with nine points.
As could be expected, All-SEC first-teamer Makayla Epps put up a solid game for Kentucky, racking up 16 points and seven rebounds. She didn't get much help however, as the team's second-leading scorer Janee Thompson managed just five points, well below her average of 12.8. Evelyn Akhator, who averages just under 12 per game for the Wildcats, managed just eight points on 2-7 shooting, leaving the bulk of the work for Epps.
The Gamecocks will look to repeat as SEC champions Sunday, when they take on the winner of the Tennessee Volunteers and the Mississippi State Bulldogs. South Carolina beat both teams away this season by six points, and it should be a hard-fought battle for the trophy.