COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina vs Mississipi State
Bree Hall had 15 points including back-to-back 3-pointers in the third quarter to extend an uncomfortably close margin and help No. 1 South Carolina stay undefeated with an 85-66 victory over Mississippi State on Sunday.
Kamilla Cardoso added 13 points, 14 rebounds and a team-high six assists and Chloe Kitts and Te-Hina Paopao had 12 points apiece for the Gamecocks (2-0 SEC), who opened 14-0 for a second straight season.
But this was far from the runaway midway through the third quarter with Mississippi State hanging around, down just 54-44 and sticking tight. That’s when Hall struck for her long-range baskets to the cheers of the once-edgy fans.
Mississippi State (13-4, 0-2) could not respond and fell to 1-16 all-time against top-ranked opponents.
The Bulldogs have always been a troublesome opponent for the Gamecocks and gave the star-laden team of Aliyah Boston and Zia Cooke all they could handle in South Carolina’s 58-51 win a year ago.
It was the same thing early on in this one with the Bulldogs up 19-16 late in the opening period. That’s when South Carolina responded with a 10-2 run to take a lead they would not relinquish on the way to a sixth straight victory in the series.
Jerkaila Jordan led the Bulldogs with 25 points.
Gamecock Notables
The Gamecocks opened SEC play 2-0 for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons.
South Carolina opened quickly, shooting over 60.0 percent in the first quarter for the third time in four games and the seventh time in the last eight games.
The Gamecock defense settled in after the first quarter, holding the Bulldogs to just 31.0 percent shooting in that stretch.
Kamilla Cardoso posted a double-double for the third-straight game, opening with seven points in the first quarter. She matched her career high with six assists as well.
Bree Hall was the steadying force, answering any time the Gamecock needed a bucket and leading the team with 15 points, including three 3s.
Ashlyn Watkins turned in another solid game, just missing a double-double with nine points and 10 boards to go with her three blocks in 28 minutes.