Virgin Islander Aliyah Boston started her junior season with a five-block performance Tuesday night to help the No. 1 ranked South Carolina Gamecocks defeat No. 5 North Carolina State Wolfpack 66-57 on Tuesday. It was both teams' first game of the season.
Boston’s impact on defense was on full display early in the game as she had two blocks in the first four minutes and ten seconds, which helped South Carolina open up a 12-6 lead about halfway into the first quarter. While North Carolina State cut the deficit to three with two and half minutes left in the first quarter, the Gamecocks led 16-11 going into the second quarter.
South Carolina opened up a 10-point lead, 21-11, just under eight minutes before halftime but NC State scored the game's next four points to trim their deficit to six with just under five minutes to go. At halftime, South Carolina led 25-19.
Despite not recording a rebound in the first quarter, Boston collected three rebounds and another block in the second quarter. She only attempted two shots in the first half, making one, and had two points in the game’s first 20 minutes.
During the first four and half minutes of the second half, NC State outscored South Carolina 13-8 to get within one point with 5:17 left in the third quarter. South Carolina closed the third quarter on a 10-5 run and led 47-39 going into the final quarter.
Boston recorded her fourth and fifth block early in the fourth quarter. She made a lay-up while being fouled after rebounding her own miss with just under five minutes left in the game. That effort gave South Carolina a game-high 14-point, 55-41, lead.
NC State got within eight points with just under three minutes left but the Gamecocks did not allow them to get any closer and secured their first win of the season.
Zia Cooke led the Gamecocks with 17 points and Destanni Henderson had 14 points in the victory. Boston finished with eight points and six rebounds to go along with her five blocks.
Raina Perez and Jakia Brown-Turner both had 18 points for NC State.
Boston was named to three national player of the season watch lists for the 2021-2022 season, the Naismith Trophy, The Wade Trophy and the Wooden Award.
Boston was named a preseason All-American by the Associated Press and USA Today.
Additionally, she was named to the Lisa Leslie Award watchlist, an award she won her first two seasons in college basketball, which is presented to the best center in women’s college basketball. She is the only player to receive this award twice in the four years it has been presented.
During her sophomore campaign, Boston was a finalist for the Naismith Award, a finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, and the Athletic's Women’s Basketball player of the year.
In her first two seasons, she averaged a double double with career averages of 13.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. She was fifth in the country in double-doubles last season with 17.
South Carolina will play six games before their next match up against an AP top 25 opponent, which will be when they take on No. 4 Maryland on December 12.
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