65

Final 1 2 T 15 South Carolina 31 34 65 Alabama 27 26 53

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No. 15 South Carolina women defeat Alabama 65-53

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) Aleighsa Welch and Ashley Bruner posted double-doubles as No. 15 South Carolina led wire-to-wire in a 65-53 win over Alabama on Thursday night, giving the Gamecocks their second straight 20-win season and 12th in school history.

Welch scored 16 points with 10 rebounds while Bruner had 15 points and 11 boards - surpassing 600 career rebounds - for South Carolina (20-3), which is 8-2 in Southeastern Conference play for the first time since 2001-02.

The Gamecocks dominated inside, outrebounding the Crimson Tide 53-24 and taking a 42-22 advantage in the paint.

South Carolina, which ranks No. 3 nationally in scoring defense, led by 10 in the first half, but Alabama (12-11, 2-8) closed to 31-27 at intermission.

Welch scored the first six points of the second half to push the Gamecocks' lead into double digits for good.

Daisha Simmons' 18 points paced the Crimson Tide, who have lost four straight.

Updated February 7, 2013