South Carolina, LSU pick up conference victories
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Zia Cooke scored 19 points and Kierra Fletcher had 15 as No. 1 South Carolina spoiled Tennessee's pack-the-paint strategy in a 73-60 victory Thursday night.
The Gamecocks (28-0, 15-0 Southeastern Conference) clinched at least a tie for the regular-season conference title.
The Lady Volunteers (20-10, 12-3) jammed the middle, trying to limit opportunities for star Aliyah Boston and daring the Gamecocks to beat them from the perimeter. Boston finished with 11 points.
Fletcher and Cooke combined to hit 5 of 8 3-pointers. The Gamecocks dominated the rebounding 48-34, with 20 of them on the offensive glass. Kamilla Cardoso had 15 boards and Brea Beal had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Rickea Jackson scored 21 points for Tennessee, which led 19-10 after the first quarter. Jordan Horston had 14 points and 11 rebounds and Karoline Striplin added 11 points.
Nine straight third-quarter points, five by Fletcher, turned a close game into a double-digit difference.
South Carolina had a 17-point run in the second quarter as it rallied from 10 down to later take a 33-29 halftime lead. Cooke scored eight straight points in that stretch.
The Lady Vols were held scoreless for more than 6 minutes before Striplin hit a 3-pointer just before the break.
The Gamecocks went the final 4:44 of the first quarter without scoring as Tennessee built a 19-10 lead.
NO. 5 LSU 82, VANDERBILT 63
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Angel Reese posted her 26th double-double of the season scoring 23 points and grabbing 18 rebounds as fifth-ranked LSU beat Vanderbilt for the Tigers' third straight win.
Reese moved a double-double away from matching Sylvia Fowles' single-season school record of 27 set in 2006-07, and the sophomore forward had her double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds by halftime.
Alexis Morris added 21 points for LSU (25-1, 13-1 Southeastern Conference), and LaDazhia Williams had 13.
Vanderbilt (12-17, 3-11) hasn't beaten LSU since the 2016-17 season at Memorial Gym.