NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Marnelle Garraud reached double figures in scoring for the fourth straight game and Ciaja Harbison reached a career milestone, but Vanderbilt couldn’t match the size and depth of No. 1 South Carolina in falling to the undefeated Gamecocks 96-48 on Thursday night at Memorial Gymnasium.
Garraud led Vanderbilt in scoring with 15 points while fellow graduate guard Harbison scored nine points to reach 2,000 career points.
Harbison transferred to Vanderbilt this season from Saint Louis. The Louisville native scored 1,688 in four seasons at Saint Louis and has scored 313 in 17 games for the Commodores.
Vandy senior Demi Washington had eight points and a season-high tying six rebounds.
South Carolina senior Aliyah Boston, the reigning National Player of Year, scored 16 points on 8 for 8 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds to tie the program’s career record for double-doubles with 72. Kamilla Cardoso added 10 points and 15 rebounds for the defending national champion Gamecocks (19-0, 7-0 SEC) while Zia Cooke scored a game-high 17 points.
Vanderbilt (9-11, 0-6 SEC) stayed with South Carolina through the early part of the first quarter, taking a 9-8 lead when Garraud scored on a backdoor layup off a pretty assist from Yaubryon Chambers. But the Gamecocks ended the quarter on a 10-0 run to take control for good. South Carolina stretched the run to 18-0 before Vanderbilt finally ended its drought with a 3-pointer by Jada Brown with 5:27 remaining in the first half.
South Carolina carried a 45-17 lead into halftime behind a balanced scoring attack, with eight players scoring at least four points. South Carolina’s lead continued to grow throughout the final 20 minutes. Harbison, Garraud, Washington and Bella LaChance all scored four points in the fourth quarter for Vandy.
The Gamecocks finished the game with 60 points in the paint, outrebounded Vandy 49-23 and had 14 blocked shots.
Honoring a Legend
The meeting with South Carolina was Vanderbilt’s We Back Pat game in honor of legendary Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt.
The SEC’s weeklong initiative is focused on bringing awareness and recognition to the Pat Summitt Foundation and its fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Summitt died in 2016 at age 64 after a five-year battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s.
Former Lady Vol star Tamika Catchings called the game for the SEC Network.
Series History
South Carolina’s win tied the all-time series 21-21. The Gamecocks have won 15 straight in the series, with Vandy’s last win coming in the 2010-11 season.
Up Next: Vanderbilt travels to Gainesville to play Florida on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT (SEC Network+).
