COLUMBIA (AP) – Alaina Coats scored 28 points and had 16 rebounds to lead No. 4 South Carolina to a 92-38 win over Hampton on Sunday.
Coates’ fellow front court player A’ja Wilson had 20 points, setting a school record making all 14 of her free throws, as the Gamecocks (2-0) used a decided size advantage to breeze past the Pirates (0-4).
Hampton trailed just 21-15 at the end of the first quarter, but two of the Pirates tallest players Kaylah Lupoe and Monnazjea Finney-Smith each picked up three fouls.
That allowed Wilson and Coates to dominate inside. Coates had 14 points in the quarter, while Wilson made all eight of her free throws as South Carolina pulled away with a 32-11 run.
Malia Tate-Defreitas, the reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference player of the year the past two seasons, led Hampton with 10 points.
Coates’ 28 points were one off her career high.
