COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 17 points to lead South Carolina’s balanced offense, and the second-ranked Gamecocks used a big run in the third and fourth quarters to pull away for an 83-52 victory over Missouri in their SEC opener Thursday night.
Te-Hina Paopao and Ashlyn Watkins added 11 points apiece, and Tessa Johnson had 10, helping the Gamecocks (13-1, 1-0) beat the Tigers (11-5, 0-1) for the fourth straight time and win their eighth straight overall since a loss to UCLA on Nov. 24.
South Carolina, which has struggled in past years at Mizzou Arena, led 36-26 at the break and was still clinging to a 48-37 advantage after the Tigers’ Ashton Judd hit a 3-pointer with about 3 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter. But after Paopao was fouled by Nyah Wilson at the other end, her two free throws started a 17-0 run that stretched into the fourth.
Judd led the Tigers with 15 points. Grace Slaughter finished with 13.
Notables
- With the 83-52 win over Mizzou, head coach Dawn Staley marked the 200th SEC win of her career. She is one of three SEC coaches all-time to hit that mark.
- All 11 Gamecocks that hit the floor scored at least a point for the fourth time this season and in back-to-back games.
- The South Carolina bench outscored the Tigers as a team 57-52, marking the sixth time this season and the third consecutive game the bench has outscored its opponent.
- The Gamecocks were excellent from the free throw line, knocking down a season-high 25.
- MiLaysia Fulwiley led the team for the fourth time this season with her 17 points, including nine in as many minutes on the court in the fourth quarter, in addition to a team-high two blocks and two steals.
- Ashlyn Watkins finished with her second double-double of the season, scoring 11 points and a team-high 11 boards to lead the team in rebounding for a seventh time this season.
- Te-Hina Paopao had a strong third quarter, posting eight of her nine points and two of her team-high three 3s to put the Gamecocks back on top by double figures.
- Tessa Johnson marked her sixth game of the season in double digits after scoring six of her 10 points in the second quarter to give South Carolina a 10-point lead at the break.
- Adhel Tac came off the bench hot in the final quarter, scoring a career-high nine points in just five minutes of play to give the Gamecocks their largest lead of the game.
