Columbia Standard

A top 25 contest was close for the first quarter before the South Carolina women’s basketball team took the reins and was off and running. With that, they defeated Southeast Conference (SEC) rival Kentucky 74-54.

The offense was led by Aliyah Boston, a 6-foot-5-inch All-American who posted a school record-tying ninth straight double-double. 

“She wants it,” coach Dawn Staley said after the game. “Some players have an insatiable desire to just want it. She wants it all and she puts in the work.” 

With the win, the top-ranked Gamecocks (15-1 overall, 3-1 SEC) improved to 8-0 against ranked opponents this season.

The game was tied at 18 at the end of the first quarter, but the Gamecocks had a 23-9 advantage in the second, creating a lead the Wildcats couldn’t overcome.

Boston had 10 points and eight rebounds in the first half, on her way to a final tally of 18 and 15. She also played well on the defensive end, recording five blocks and helping to hold Kentucky’s star scorer Rhône Howard to 2-of-14 shooting and nine points, tying her season low. That’s less than half her average of 19.7 points per game.

Zia Cooke had a team-leading 19 points.

“When Zia plays well, I mean, it just raises the level of our entire team,” Staley said. “And some players have that impact and she is that for us.”

South Carolina has won 14 of the last 15 games against Kentucky, and now has a 36-34 lead in the series. Under Staley, the Gamecocks are 20-10 against the Wildcats.

The Gamecocks next host Texas A&M Jan. 13.