This was supposed to be the year the UConn women's basketball dynasty would end at the hands of a team like South Carolina, but that certainly hasn't happened. Instead, the Huskies earned their 100th consecutive victory Monday night, pulling away from the Gamecocks in the second half to secure the 66-55 win.
South Carolina handled the moment well in the first half, playing an incredibly patient offense and holding a lead with just over a minute to play before the break. However, the Gamecocks committed a pair of turnovers on their final possessions of the half, sparking a 7-0 run for the nation's top team, giving UConn a lead it would never relinquish.
The Huskies dominated the end of the third quarter as well, scoring the period's last five points after two missed free throws from Allisha Gray on the other end. South Carolina found itself trailing by 12 heading into the fourth quarter, and the deficit never got smaller than nine for the remainder of the game.
UConn shut down the Gamecock offense in the second half by limiting A'ja Wilson, who was visibly frustrated in the game's final minutes. Wilson's five points after the break all came at the free throw line, and she saw two or more defenders in the post every time she touched the ball.
Wilson wasn't the only player to struggle, as Kaela Davis couldn't find her stroke all night, finishing 1-of-10 from the field for just three points while committing five turnovers and picking up four fouls. Davis sat for a decent amount of the fourth quarter, and South Carolina didn't have the offensive firepower to mount a comeback without her.
The Huskies were allowing some good looks from the three-point line as they tried to limit Wilson and Alaina Coates, but the Gamecocks weren't able to convert enough opportunities to force a shift in strategy. UConn was playing especially far-off point guard Tyasha Harris, but the freshman made just one of her eight attempts from beyond the arc.
On the other end, South Carolina did a great job quieting UConn leading scorer Katie Lou Samuelson, limiting her to just six points, but the Gamecocks couldn't contain Gabby Williams, who scored 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds while playing all 40 minutes. Williams was all over the floor for the Huskies, grabbing several loose balls and running the offense at times as well, recording four assists.
After taking their third loss of the season, the Gamecocks will look to rebound at home Thursday against Vanderbilt. Tip-off from Colonial Life Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.