COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Freshman A’ja Wilson scored 18 points, defending Southeastern Conference player of the year Tiffany Mitchell added 16 points and Alaina Coates had 12 points and 11 rebounds as No. 1 South Carolina remained unbeaten with a 79-61 victory over 12th-ranked Texas A&M on Monday night.
The Gamecocks (19-0, 7-0 SEC), who remained on top of the rankings for a 10th straight poll earlier Monday, put away the Aggies with a 27-8 run in the second half after seeing their double-digit lead shrink to 40-38. That’s when Mitchell made four consecutive free throws to start the run. She added four more points and Coates scored six points as South Carolina took control.
Texas A&M (16-5, 4-3) had been the last time to beat the Gamecocks at Colonial Life Arena in 2013. But the Aggies struggled shooting as 14-point-a-game scorer Courtney Williams was 3 of 21 from the field.
No. 20 IOWA 78, No. 15 NEBRASKA 72, OT
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Ally Disterhoft scored all 20 of her points in the second half and overtime to lead Iowa to its first victory against Nebraska in nine tries as a Big Ten opponent.
Bethany Doolittle had six of her 12 points during the extra period while Iowa outscored Nebraska 17-11. Samantha Logic finished with 22 points and eight assists and Disterhoft had 13 rebounds.
Iowa (16-3, 7-1 Big Ten) rallied with a 17-6 run to lead 60-57 on Disterhoft’s layup with 2:33 left in regulation.
Rachel Theriot’s jumper gave the Cornhuskers (15-4, 5-3) a 61-60 lead with 4.5 seconds. Iowa inbounded long and handed off to Whitney Jennings who drew a foul with 1.3 seconds left. She made one free throw to force overtime.
Tear’a Laudermill and Emily Cady led Nebraska with 19 points each. Cady grabbed 18 boards and Theriot added 15 points.
No. 18 MISSISSIPPI STATE 59, AUBURN 48
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Victoria Vivians had 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to help Mississippi State beat Auburn.
Vivians was 8 of 22 from the floor and recorded the fourth double-double of her freshman season.
Breanna Richardson and Martha Alwal had 15 points apiece for Mississippi State (21-2, 6-2 SEC). Alwal was 6 of 9 from the field and grabbed eight rebounds.
Vivians had 15 points in the first half and Richardson 11 as Mississippi State led 28-22 lead at the break.
The Bulldogs held a 38-30 overall edge on the glass, including 17-7 on the offensive end.
Brandy Montgomery led Auburn (9-11, 0-7) with 21 points and Neydja Petithomme added 11. The Tigers dropped their eighth straight game.
Auburn was playing without Hasina Muhammad, its leading scorer in SEC play, after being suspended for two games.
No. 25 CHATTANOOGA 49, SAMFORD 32
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — Keiana Gilbert scored 14 points to help Chattanooga beat Samford for its 14th consecutive victory.
Chattanooga entered The Associated Press poll Monday for the first time since 1984 — when it reached as high as No. 19. With the team entering the rankings it marked the fourth team that coach Jim Foster took into the poll. He’s the first coach ever to do that.
Gilbert added seven rebounds and four steals for Chattanooga (18-3, 6-0 Southern Conference). The Mocs have won 40 straight conference games since 2013.
Taylor Reece hit two 3-pointers and finished with 10 points for Samford (11-9, 4-1).
The Bulldogs made just two field goals in the opening 11 minutes of the game and trailed 20-4 after Gilbert’s basket.
The 32 points allowed were a season low for Chattanooga.
