No. 2 Gamecocks get signature win over No. 17 Kentucky

COLUMBIA, SC --- After giving up a loss to the Tennessee Volunteers on the road this past Thursday, No. 2 South Carolina were looking to bounce back and beat conference rival Kentucky to get back into the win column.

In a statement win, the Gamecocks defeated No. 17 Kentucky 76-55.

With this being senior day for Dawn Staley’s squad, the Gamecocks lone senior, Lele Grissett was honored prior to the game and was also in the starting lineup. Grissett would go on to finish with 13 points, six rebounds, and two blocks.

Despite being nervous, Grissett said that she was both excited about senior day, and sad how her four years went “really fast.”

“Like the first 10 seconds I couldn’t breathe”, said Grissett.

Sophomore guard Zia Cooke continues to prove herself as a young leader for South Carolina, leading the Gamecocks with 21 points and 5 rebounds in the win.

Staley was very complimentary of Cooke’s play, “I liked what she did all around.”

Once of the biggest difference makers in the game was Kentucky’s offensive struggled in the second half. The Wildcats would struggle down the stretch, finishing with just one made basket in their last 13 attempts to go along with 12 turnovers.

Disappointed in her team’s performance in the loss, Kentucky Head Coach Kyra Elzy said, “We let it get away from us in the 3rdquarter and we just didn’t get the job done.”

Sophomore forward Laeticia Amihere would finish with another double-double off the bench, scoring 12 points and posting 13 rebounds.

Even though the Gamecocks are taking it one game at a time, looking ahead to tournament play, Staley says she hopes, “the best team wins with the best competition.”

As the Gamecocks look to close out the regular season, they’ll welcome Ole Miss to Colonial Life Arena on Thursday at 1 p.m. with the game televised on the SEC Network Plus.