ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - Tyasha Harris is realizing the value of her scoring even as she has claimed a new title as South Carolina’s career assists leader.
Harris scored 13 points and added seven assists and No. 1 South Carolina rode an overwhelming opening period to its 13th consecutive win, beating Georgia 88-53 on Sunday.
Harris, a senior, now has 617 career assists, passing the old mark of 615 set by Cristina Ciocan from 2001-04.
“It’s a great record to get,” Harris said. “I always like passing the ball. That’s what I pride myself on. A little bit too much, I guess you could say, sometime. But it’s great.”
Coach Dawn Staley said Harris “is in a really good place now” as a scorer and floor leader.
“She sees how much better we are when she is aggressive shooting the ball, attacking the basket and getting her teammates involved,” Staley said. “I think she’s found a happy medium with both and it’s elevated our team.”
Aliyah Boston led South Carolina (19-1, 7-0 Southeastern Conference) with 15 points and four of the Gamecocks’ 11 steals. Destanni Henderson had 14 points.
Stephanie Paul led Georgia (12-8, 3-4) with 13 points.
South Carolina used its dominant defense to grab control early.
After Georgia’s Jenna Staiti scored the game’s first points, Harris had seven points in the Gamecocks’ 14-0 run that left the Lady Bulldogs with double-digit deficits the remainder of the game.
“You can’t let a team like South Carolina get up on you like that, 28-8 in the first,” said Georgia coach Joni Taylor. “They’re just too good offensively to be able to stop them and dig yourselves out of that hole.”
Harris sank a 3-pointer and added another jumper as the bookend baskets of the run.
South Carolina had seven steals while stretching the lead to 20 points in the opening period. Many of the forced turnovers followed Georgia’s ill-fated attempts to pass the ball inside. The Lady Bulldogs made only 3 of 13 shots from the field in the deflating opening period.
Gabby Connally’s third 3-pointer of the second period helped Georgia trim the South Carolina lead to 13 points at 34-21. The Gamecocks stretched the lead to 26 points in the third period.
Connally had 11 points and nine assists.
BIG PICTURE
South Carolina: After surviving their first real SEC challenge in Monday’s 81-79 win over No. 9 Mississippi State, the Gamecocks returned to their dominant form with their sixth conference win of at least nine points. … The Gamecocks, No. 1 in the nation with 8.3 blocked shots per game, had nine blocks.
Georgia: The Lady Bulldogs have lost 11 straight in the series with South Carolina. Georgia’s last win in the series came on January 13, 2013. … Five of Georgia’s eight losses have come against teams currently in the Top 25. … Georgia outscored South Carolina 22-19 in the second period but couldn’t mount a serious challenge to the lead. … Que Morrison and Malury Bates fouled out.
A LOSS FOR WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Both coaches mourned NBA legend Kobe Bryant’s death on Sunday as a loss for women’s basketball. Bryant was a supporter of the college game and the WNBA as well as his daughters as players. “Kobe, since he retired, he dedicated his life to his little girls and her career in basketball,” Staley said. “It’s unfortunate we don’t get a chance to see him coach anymore or impact girls lives. He just talked about WNBA players being able to play in the NBA. We need more people like Kobe Bryant sticking up for women’s basketball.”
Taylor said Bryant “supported college basketball, the WNBA, all levels. He was a champion for us.”
Both coaches waited until after the game to tell their players about Bryant’s death.
“Honestly, you just have to look at it like life is too short,” said Georgia’s Shaniya Jones, who shed tears when talking about Bryant. “… No one knows when it’s their time.”
WINNING WITH SPEED
South Carolina had a 20-9 advantage in fast-break points. The key, Staley said, was “Speed. Just our ability to rebound and push the ball down the floor.” Staley said Harris, who had only one turnover, was the “floor general, leading the charge.”
UP NEXT
South Carolina completes a two-game road swing at Mississippi on Thursday.
Georgia will face its third straight Top 25 team when it plays at No. 15 Texas A&M on Thursday.
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