TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Aleighsa Welch and Ashley Bruner posted double-doubles as No. 15 South Carolina led wire-to-wire in a 65-53 win over Alabama on Thursday night, giving the Gamecocks their second straight 20-win season and 12th in school history.
Welch scored 16 points with 10 rebounds while Bruner had 15 points and 11 boards — surpassing 600 career rebounds — for South Carolina (20-3), which is 8-2 in Southeastern Conference play for the first time since 2001-02.
The Gamecocks dominated inside, outrebounding the Crimson Tide 53-24 and taking a 42-22 advantage in the paint.
South Carolina, which ranks No. 3 nationally in scoring defense, led by 10 in the first half, but Alabama (12-11, 2-8) closed to 31-27 at intermission.