The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No. 1 Gamecocks beat Georgia, finish off SEC championship
Aliyah Boston had 25 points and 11 rebounds, and Zia Cooke added 12 points as No. 1 South Carolina completed a perfect Southeastern Conference season with a 73-63 victory over Georgia on Sunday.
Boston and Cooke celebrated Senior Day with another fabulous showing as the Gamecocks (29-0, 16-0) won their 35th straight and their seventh SEC title in the past 10 seasons. Kamilla Cardoso, the Gamecocks’ 6-foot-7 reserve, had 13 points and 10 rebounds.
South Carolina heads to the SEC Tournament — a two-hour drive from campus in Greenville — as favorites to recapture the crown that eluded them a year ago.
Georgia (20-10, 9-7) kept things uncomfortably close into the second quarter before the Gamecocks pulled away for their 17th straight victory in the series. Georgia frustrated South Carolina nearly two months ago, holding Boston to four points and five boards in a 68-51 loss. The Bulldogs’ defense was at it again, this time limiting just about every other Gamecock besides Boston.
South Carolina used its height advantage to maintain a double-figure lead for much of the second half. Georgia fell to 0-4 this season against ranked opponents. Diamond Battles led the Bulldogs with 20 points. Georgia starts SEC Tournament play Thursday. South Carolina begins play Friday.
No. 10 Notre Dame 68, (at) Louisville 65: Sonia Citron scored 27 points, including four free throws in the final 1:20, and Notre Dame overcame the loss of guard Olivia Miles to a knee injury, clinching the ACC regular-season title. Miles, who leads the Irish with 14.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.1 steals per game, was hurt with 2:35 remaining before halftime while diving for a loose ball. The sophomore made her way to the locker room. She returned to the bench in the third quarter with the knee wrapped. Miles then watched Notre Dame (24-4, 15-3 ACC) rally from a 33-24 halftime deficit. Hailey Van Lith finished with 23 points for the Cardinals (21-10, 12-6), who closed the final 2:51 without a field goal.
No. 22 North Carolina 45, (at) No. 11 Duke 41: North Carolina (20-9, 11-7) went 9 of 9 from the foul line in the fourth quarter to deny Duke (24-5, 14-4) a share of the ACC championship with the lowest-scoring game in 105 meetings of these bitter rivals.
Men’s top 25
No. 20 Providence 88, (at) Georgetown 68: Ed Croswell scored a career-high 25 points and the Friars (21-8, 13-5 Big East) easily dispatched last-place Georgetown despite leading scorer Bryce Hopkins matching his season low with six points. Primo Spears had 26 points for Georgetown (7-23, 2-17).
(At) Maryland 75, No. 21 Northwestern 59: Jahmir Young’s 18 points helped Maryland wrap up an undefeated home season in Big Ten play. The Terps (20-9, 11-7) finished 16-1 overall at home in Kevin Willard’s first season as coach, turning back the Wildcats (20-9, 11-7). Maryland’s win also clinched at least a share of the Big Ten title for No. 5 Purdue (24-5, 13-5).