#4 South Carolina routs Arkansas 79-49 behind another monster game by Alaina Coates

After an average outing against Tennessee on January 30, Alaina Coates has put together two back-to-back big time performances on the road. Her 18 points and career-high 19 rebounds led South Carolina to a 79-49 win at Arkansas on Sunday afternoon.

The margin might have been a little more for the Gamecocks if not for a 12-0 run by the Razorbacks to cut the South Carolina lead from 70-37 to 70-49 with 2:59 left, but Carolina closed with a 9-0 run to seal the 30-point win. They shot 48% for the game and dominated the contest with a 40-18 advantage in the paint. The Gamecocks also won the battle of the boards easily, outrebounding the Hogs 46-30 and eliminating second chances with a 2-to-1 edge on the defensive glass (30-15).

Five South Carolina players hit double figures in scoring as they enjoyed a balanced effort in the box score. A’ja Wilson added 18 of her own to tie Coates’ game high despite sitting out the entire fourth quarter with the game well in hand. Kaela Davis, Allisha Gray, and Bianca Cuevas-Moore had ten each in the winning effort. The Gamecocks’ defense held the Razorbacks to just 28% of the field and allowed one Arkansas player, Aalijah Wilson, to reach double figures (16 points). Leading scorer Jessica Jackson was held well below her 15.1 ppg average as she managed just two points on a dismal 1-11 shooting day. In fact, besides Wilson, Keiryn Swenson (3-8), and Alecia Cooley (3-4), no Arkansas player made more than one field goal.

Auburn is the Gamecocks’ next opponent as they head back to Colonial Life Arena before a date with #1 UConn in Storrs. Tipoff is set for 7pm Thursday on SEC Network+.