GamecockCentral.com - WBB: USC rolls over Bulldogs

January 6, 2013

GamecockCentral.com

At Starkville, Miss., No. 18 South Carolina earned its first SEC win of the season with a surprising performance from the Gamecocks' weakest area - free throws.

USC hit 32 free throws in a 60-46 win over Mississippi State on Sunday, a stunning stat considering that the Gamecocks (13-2, 1-1 SEC) entered the game as the league's worst free-throw shooting team. The Gamecocks made more than twice as many free throws as they did field goals (14), and set a Dawn Staley-era record with their makes.

Aleighsa Welch led the team with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Sancheon White tied a career-high with 11 points and also had six boards. Ieasia Walker had eight points and Ashley Bruner had seven.

The Gamecocks only attempted two 3-pointers and didn't make one. They didn't have to, with such a good performance from the line - everybody on the team shot at least two, and everybody made at least one. Welch aced six of her eight tries, while Tiffany Mitchell was 5-of-6 from the line for all her points. USC attempted 50 free throws.

Only Carnecia Williams and Sherise Williams fouled out for the Bulldogs (8-7, 0-2) but two other players had four fouls each. One of those, second-leading scorer Martha Alwal, only had four points.

USC hosts Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

SEC STANDINGS
Team SEC Overall
Kentucky 2-0 14-1
Tennessee 2-0 11-3
Texas A&M 2-0 12-4
Vanderbilt 2-0 12-3
Auburn 1-1 12-3
Florida 1-1 12-4
Georgia 1-1 13-2
LSU 1-1 10-5
Missouri 1-1 12-4
South Carolina 1-1 13-2
Alabama 0-2 10-5
Arkansas 0-2 12-3
Mississippi State 0-2 8-7
Ole Miss 0-2 7-8
Sunday's scores
Florida 77, LSU 72
Tennessee 79, Georgia 66
Missouri 82, Auburn 76
Kentucky 87, Alabama 70
Vanderbilt 76, Ole Miss 57
Texas A&M 63, Arkansas 51