Virgin Islander Aliyah Boston had her first double double of the season with 22 points and 15 rebounds as the No. 1 ranked South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the No. 2 ranked UConn Huskies to win the Battle 4 Atlantis Championship 73-57 in a battle between the two highest ranked teams in women’s college basketball Monday afternoon.
On the game’s first two possessions, Zia Cooke and Boston each hit a three pointer to give South Carolina an early 6-0 lead. UConn then went on a 18-2 run and led 20-8 with 1:30 left in the first quarter.
The Gamecocks quickly trimmed the deficit to 20-14 by scoring the last six points of the first quarter.
UConn built their lead up to 13, 28-15, with just under eight minutes left in the first half. UConn led 32-21 with just over six minutes left in the first half before South Carolina went on a 12-4 run to make the deficit three, 36-33, at halftime.
Boston nearly had a double double in the first half with 11 points and 9 rebounds in the first two quarters.
South Carolina regained the advantage on the scoreboard after Boston brought down an offensive rebound, made a lay-up, got fouled, and made the ensuing free throw to give the Gamecocks a 40-38 lead with just under eight and a half minutes to go in the third quarter.
Boston had seven points in the third quarter's first two and half minutes and South Carolina led by six, 46-40, with about seven minutes to go in the quarter. UConn fought back and took a 52-50 lead with about two and half minutes left in the third quarter but South Carolina led 57-54 going into the fourth quarter.
With Boston on the bench to start the fourth quarter on the bench after picking up her third foul, South Carolina increased their lead to 61-54 before she returned to the game with about six and a half minutes left to play.
Boston scored her 20th point with a lay up with about five and half minutes left in the game which made the score 63-54. South Carolina gave up just three points in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.
Zia Cooke had 17 points and Destanni Henderson had 15 points in the victory.
The Gamecocks dominated the rebounding battle with 41 rebounds as a team compared to UConn’s 26.
UConn’s Paige Bueckers had 19 points, 7 assists and five rebounds in the loss.
The teams will play again on January 27.
The win moves South Carolina to 6-0 on the season and drops UConn to 3-1 so far.
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