South Carolina vs Missouri women’s basketball score, recap

South Carolina continues to dominate in SEC play.

The Gamecocks (18-0, 6-0 SEC) routed Missouri 81-50 Sunday afternoon inside Colonial Life Arena.

Both teams traded shots early in the game, with the Tigers (14-5, 3-3 SEC) draining 3-pointers and the Gamecocks looking for star forward Aliyah Boston inside.

There was much physicality in the first half, with a total of 20 fouls called.

South Carolina started to pull away from Missouri in the second quarter after a Zia Cooke 3-pointer extended the lead to eight, and a pair of Boston free throws the next possession increased the lead to 10.

The Gamecocks lost to Missouri last season in the SEC opener but left no room for doubt this time around. USC got up and down the court with ease and finished with 80 or more points for the third time in conference play.

South Carolina will travel for its next game, facing Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. Thursday.

ALIYAH BOSTON INCHES CLOSER

Boston finished with a double-double for the third-straight game against the Tigers, recording 20 points and 10 rebounds. It was the second-straight game for her with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Boston entered the game averaging a career-low in points, though it was mostly due to the increase in depth around her.

Early on in conference play, she faced many double-teams and trapping defenses. She was held to just 10 total points in the first two SEC games. But since then, her numbers have risen and she’s left a bigger mark on games from an offensive standpoint.

Boston sits at 71 career double-doubles, one shy of tying Sheila Foster for the program record.

GAMECOCKS CONTROL THE GLASS

Rebounding is one of the hallmarks of Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks, but the team had total control of the boards on Sunday.

South Carolina entered the game with the third-highest rebounding average in the country and the second-highest rebound margin.

Five players finished with at least five rebounds for South Carolina against Missouri.

ASHLYN WATKINS EMERGING

Freshman forward Ashlyn Watkins was the first sub off the bench for South Carolina and found ways to be productive throughout the afternoon.

Waktins totaled 13 points and six rebounds. This was her sixth double-digit scoring game of the season, and first in conference play.

She scored in a variety of ways, knocking down a midrange jumpshot in the first half, scoring on inside passes from the guards and crashing the offensive glass.

NEXT FOUR SOUTH CAROLINA WBB GAMES

• Thursday: at Vanderbilt, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)

• Jan. 22: home vs. Arkansas, 3 p.m. (ESPN2)

• Jan. 29: at Alabama, 1 p.m. (ESPN2)

• Feb. 2: home vs. Kentucky, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)