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Gamecocks Escape with 52-44 Win at Florida
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - No.
19/18 South Carolina survived a late surge by Florida to claim a 52-44
win over the Gators Sunday afternoon at the Stephen C. O’Connell
Center. The Gamecocks (16-3, 4-2 SEC) captured the road victory behind
59 rebounds, the most during head coach Dawn Staley’s tenure, and a
defensive effort that held Florida to just 17 field goals. While the
starters were strong, South Carolina got huge contributions off the
bench in the form of 15 points from Khadijah Sessions and a pair of
blocked shots late from Elem Ibiam that kept Florida from completing
its comeback.
The first half was physical, especially inside as
both teams were determined to get to the basket. Ashley Bruner got the
scoring going early for the Gamecocks, hitting the team’s first two
baskets, and Tiffany Mitchell put South Carolina on top 6-4 with a
runner in transition five minutes into the contest. While the Gamecocks
suffered through a three-minute scoring drought from there, the South
Carolina defense had the Gators mired in a five-minute scoreless
stretch that allowed the lead to expand to 12-4 behind a pair of
3-pointers from Khadijah Sessions.
Florida hit a basket with
10:31 left in the period, but South Carolina netted the next five
points thanks to three trips to the free throw line and an Ieasia
Walker jumper from the left baseline for a 17-6 edge. Both teams
crashed the boards relentlessly, and offensive rhythm was hard to come
by late in the half. After Florida’s Kayla Lewis hit a jumper in the
lane, South Carolina called time out with 1:34 left in the half and
thanks to three offensive rebounds closed the half with a 24-17
advantage.
The second half started with Florida attacking the
rim and finally finding success there. The Gators tied the game 35-35
with 12:10 left, but the Gamecocks answered with a 10-0 run that
included a series of blocks from Elem Ibiam. Sessions hit another 3 to
get the surge going, and after an offensive rebound, Bruner drove the
baseline for a basket. Welch completed a traditional three-point play
on the next possession, and a defensive rebound let Bruner run out for
a transition layup to make it 45-35 with 9:36 to play.
Once
again, the Gators clawed back behind drives to the basket while the
Gamecocks struggled from the free throw line, leading to a nine-minute
scoreless stretch. But the defense managed to turn back Florida when it
mattered most. After closing to 42-45 with 3:06 on the clock, Florida
saw the Gamecocks clean up back-to-back missed 3-pointers. South
Carolina was charged with an offensive foul with under a minute to go,
but again an errant 3-pointer found its way to a Gamecock to end the
possession.
The Gators began sending the Gamecocks to the free
throw line, but to no avail. Bruner missed the second of her attempts,
but Aleighsa Welch soared in for the rebound to extend the possession
in the final minute. Mitchell’s pair of free throws all but sealed the
game with a five-point lead and just 15 seconds to play.
Welch
and Mitchell each grabbed double-digit rebounds, reeling in 12 and 11,
respectively. Eight of Welch’s came on the offensive end to tie her
career high. Bruner finished the night with 14 points and nine rebounds
in the victory.
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