COLUMBIA (AP) – Alaina Coates had 22 points and 10 rebounds, A’ja Wilson had 15 points and 11 rebounds as No. 1 seed South Carolina ran past first-time NCAA Tournament team Jacksonville 77-41 on Friday night.
The Gamecocks (32-1) won their fifth straight NCAA opener and will take on ninth-seeded Kansas State on Sunday night for a spot in the Sweet 16.
The Dolphins (22-11) were the Atlantic Sun Conference champions who came in with an eight-game winning streak. They were no match, however, for the tall, strong twin post-presence of 6-foot-4 Coates and 6-5 Wilson.
Wilson, the Southeastern Conference player of the year, had six quick points to put South Carolina ahead for good. Jacksonville, whose tallest player is 6-1, had no way to respond as the Gamecocks continued to find Wilson and Coates underneath for easy baskets.
Briona Brown had 17 points to lead Jacksonville.
