TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — They’re not always going to be smooth. Top-ranked South Carolina had won its last four games by an average of 38.5 points, so as Sunday’s fourth quarter at Alabama dawned and the Crimson Tide only trailed by 10, there was some surprise, but no panic.
The Gamecocks’ senior class, with a mere eight losses over the past four seasons, knows they can’t all be blowouts. Got to win the clunkers, too, and if the clunker happens to be while trying for a record-setting 27th straight win, well, that’s the way it goes.
USC eked out a 65-52 schoolyard scrap over Alabama to set that record with the same general answer it supplies whenever another close game pops up. The Gamecocks (21-0, 9-0 SEC) have loads of talent, and one never knows who could have a huge unexpected afternoon.
On Sunday, it was sophomore guard Bree Hall, who came off the bench for an explosive 18 points, her career-high. Added to Aliyah Boston’s double-double, it was enough cushion to get out of Coleman Coliseum still undefeated.
“Once Alabama saw we had a little trouble defending, they just kept going at us, forcing us to do a better job. Over the course of 40 minutes, it’s what they do well,” coach Dawn Staley said. “We didn’t defend it well for 40 minutes, but we gritted it out and found a way to win on the road.”
With no midweek game last week, perhaps Sunday was predictable. The Gamecocks looked sluggish running their half-court sets, but they still never trailed due to what’s always been there.
USC has height. Alabama (16-6, 5-4) had a bit of it but also only nine healthy players. The Gamecocks were throwing up brick after brick on their first attempts but with Boston, Kamilla Cardoso and Laeticia Amihere packing the paint to rebound, caroms and do-overs defined the first half.
USC finished with 20 offensive rebounds and 26 second-chance points.
Zia Cooke scored six quick points and then didn’t score in the last three quarters, Brea Beal was 1-of-9 from the field and the Tide were relentlessly getting to the rim and always hitting jumpers just when USC was poised to put away the game.
It could have been nervous time. But the old heads again stood up.
“Play with poise,” said Boston, describing how the seniors set the example for the rest. “And I think they follow us. We don’t look like we’re stressed, we don’t look like we’re panicking. We just play.”
Hall popped two 3-pointers to get herself started, and Boston began to anchor the defense with some of her four blocks. The Gamecocks found their gap and stepped into it.
Tide shots began missing and Hall kept hitting. Alabama’s superior defense presumably scouted everybody on the Gamecocks’ roster, but nobody could stay in front of Hall, who spotted up all over the floor.
“It all starts with practice, keeping your head level, having a lot of confidence, then putting it out on the court. I feel like what’s really separating me is what I do in practice,” Hall said. “I feel like when I come into the game, I let the game come to me.”
The Gamecocks never approached a blowout but got a comfortable win, notching a school record fitting for this class and preparing to get back into the two-games-per-week grind.
“They play with a one-ness. And that one-ness is to win,” Staley said of her seniors. “It doesn’t matter what it looks like. They do what’s necessary to win.”
Clean bill
Talaysia Cooper, who has missed the last two games, warmed up and could have played if she needed to. Following Sania Feagin’s injury before Cooper’s, Sunday was the first time in six games the Gamecocks have had their full roster available.
Next up
The Gamecocks host Kentucky on Thursday.
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