Jan. 7, 2016
Box Score | Quotes | Howell’s Photos 
Highlights | Balcomb | Dahlman & Shaw
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – South Carolina’s Tiffany Mitchell, the two-time Southeastern Conference player of the year, scored a season-high 22 points, helping the second-ranked Gamecocks preserve their perfect record by holding off Vanderbilt 71-61 on Thursday night at Memorial Gym.
The Commodores (11-4, 0-2) went toe-to-toe with the Gamecocks (14-0, 2-0) in a contest that featured 18 lead changes and eight ties. But down the stretch, Mitchell was the difference-maker.
“It boiled down to our most experienced players making big plays,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. “And (Mitchell) hasn’t been our conference player of the year the last two years for nothing. She put us on her back.”
A’ja Wilson, the Gamecocks’ leading scorer and fourth in the SEC averaging 17.1 points per game, had a season-low four points. Mitchell had three 3-pointers, five assists and two steals.
Vanderbilt coach Melanie Balcomb said Mitchell was in a zone.
“That was difficult, and then I felt like we calmed her down a little bit, then (Tina) Roy started going off,” Balcomb said.
The Gamecocks (14-0, 2-0) won their seventh straight against Vanderbilt, keeping them just one of three undefeated Division I women’s teams in the nation along with top-ranked Connecticut and No. 4 Texas. Roy finished with 13 points, Alaina Coates scored 11 and had 10 rebounds. Khadijah Sessions had 10.
But beating Vanderbilt (11-4, 0-2) in Memorial Gym is never easy with the Gamecocks winning their last three visits by an average of four points. These Commodores just saw a 10-game winning streak snapped in their SEC opener, losing 55-52 at Mississippi.
Rebekah Dahlman led Vanderbilt with 14 points.
South Carolina led by seven late in the first quarter. That was the Gamecocks’ biggest lead until the final minute with Vanderbilt also leading by six in a game featuring eight ties and 18 lead changes.
“It’s always a barn burner when we play Vanderbilt here, and we came into the game knowing it would take this kind of effort,” Staley said.
Vanderbilt last led 42-41 with 1:51 left in the third on a layup by Jasmine Jenkins. Roy hit a 3 to put South Carolina back up, and the Commodores managed to only tie it one more time at 46. Roy hit another 3, and Vanderbilt couldn’t get closer than a point in the fourth quarter.
Marqu’es Webb converted a three-point play with 2:22 left to pull Vanderbilt to 64-61. Sessions hit a 3 for South Carolina, and Vanderbilt didn’t score again as the Gamecocks finished on a 14-5 run.
South Carolina came in with a decided size advantage with 6-foot-5 Wilson the tallest player on the court with teammates Coates and forward Jatarie White both 6-4. Vanderbilt has only one player taller than 6-1, and 6-4 center Kendall Shaw comes off the bench. She scored a season-high nine points, helping Vanderbilt match South Carolina’s 30 points in the paint.
TIP-INS
South Carolina: Redshirt freshman Doniyah Cliney made her season debut against Vanderbilt. She had surgery on her right hand in early November and had the cast removed Dec. 17. Cliney wasn’t cleared to practice until this week. She played five minutes and scored two points. … The Gamecocks opened SEC play winning their first two games for the third straight season and sixth time under Staley. … South Carolina is 31-3 in SEC play since 2013-14.
Vanderbilt: The Commodores came in as the SEC’s best and eighth in the nation shooting 48.8 percent. They also rank 12th nationally shooting 38.7 percent from 3 but went 4 of 20 beyond the arc. … They also lead the SEC allowing only 50.5 points per game.
AT THE LINE: Vanderbilt had been shooting only 64.2 percent at the free throw line the past eight games. The Commodores hit 13 of 15 compared to the Gamecocks who went 11 of 23 at the line.
UP NEXT:
Vanderbilt: Visits Alabama on Sunday.
South Carolina: Hosts Missouri on Sunday.
