LEXINGTON, Ky. — Bree Hall scored 18 points, MiLaysia Fulwiley added 17 off the bench, and top-ranked South Carolina beat Kentucky 103-55 on Sunday to clinch its third consecutive outright Southeastern Conference regular-season championship and eighth in 11 years.
With 6-foot-7 star center Kamilla Cardoso sitting out a second consecutive game, the Gamecocks (27-0, 14-0) widened a 20-point halftime cushion to 74-43 after three quarters behind 12-of-16 shooting on the way to 64% accuracy overall. Te-Hina Paopao made all three 3-point attempts among four makes overall in the quarter after missing her only shot before halftime.
Sania Feagin (16 points) took charge in the fourth to maintain South Carolina’s roll as it swept Kentucky for its fourth straight series win and 10th of the past 11 meetings. The Gamecocks routed Alabama 72-44 on Thursday to clinch a share of the SEC title and give coach Dawn Staley her 600th career victory.
Ashlyn Watkins had 13 points and Chloe Kitts 10 for the Gamecocks, who rang up their sixth 100-point outing this season and first in SEC play.
Ajae Petty had 16 points and Sania Tyler 15 for the Wildcats (11-17, 5-9), who shot just 34% after winning their past two games.
BIG PICTURE
South Carolina made its five shots and scored 12 of its first 15 points in the paint to quickly establish offensive flow. The Gamecocks were even sharper defensively, cutting off every angle to prevent Kentucky from getting any rhythm going. They also converted 19 of 21 from the line.
Kentucky had nowhere to go up from the previous shellacking but opened 4 of 17 from the field to dig a big hole early. An improved second quarter made no difference, and the Wildcats struggled from the foul line with just 7 of 18 makes.
UP NEXT
South Carolina visits Arkansas on Thursday night before hosting Tennessee in its regular-season finale on Sunday.
Kentucky hosts Mississippi in its home finale on Thursday night.