Destanni Henderson and Zia Cooke each scored 19 points, and top-ranked South Carolina pulled away from South Dakota for an 81-71 win in the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic on Saturday.
Henderson finished two points shy of a career high. She was 8 of 13 from the floor and also had nine rebounds.
Chloe Lamb led South Dakota (0-1) with 18 points, and Hannah Sjerven added 15 points and 12 rebounds.
South Carolina guard Zia Cooke (1) shoots a 3-pointer over South Dakota defender Chloe Lamb (22) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP PhotoJosh Jurgens)
South Carolina (2-0) trailed by five during the second quarter and the game was tied 37-37 at halftime before the Gamecocks pulled away. They outscored the Coyotes 31-11 in the third quarter, and Cooke’s basket with 19 seconds left gave the Gamecocks a 20-point lead entering the final frame.
They stretched the advantage to 21 in the fourth quarter before South Dakota cut it to seven with just under a minute to play.
BIG PICTURE
South Carolina guard Destanni Henderson(3) puts up a contested layup against South Dakota defender Chloe Lamb (22) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP PhotoJosh Jurgens)
South Carolina’s size eventually wore down the Coyotes. The Gamecocks outrebounded South Dakota 45-37 and had 15 offensive boards.
UP NEXT
South Carolina plays Gonzaga in the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic on Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET.
South Carolina guard Victaria Saxton (5) shoots a jump shot over South Dakota defender Chloe Lamb (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP PhotoJosh Jurgens)
South Dakota plays Gonzaga on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET.
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