ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands — Aleighsa Welch scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for her second double-double in a row as the South Carolina women’s basketball team downed Florida Gulf Coast 65-46 on the second day of the Paradise Jam.
Welch and Ashley Bruner scored the game’s first eight points, including six by Welch, while the defense forced four turnovers on the Eagles’ first five possessions.
The teams traded 3-pointers before the Eagles opened a 7-2 surge, capped by Taylor Gradinjan’s 3 from the left wing that brought the Eagles to within three at 13-10. But Bruner and Asia Dozier got the Gamecocks rolling for a 14-6 run.
The Eagles sank three 3-pointers just before the half narrowed and the Gamecocks took a 32-26 lead into the locker room.
After the break, USC returned eager to get to the rim. South Carolina had its largest lead of the game at 38-26 just over two minutes into the half.
Bruner later scored seven points in a row to stretch USC’s lead to 47-28 at the 12:46 mark.
Bruner led the Gamecocks’ offense with 15 points, and Sancheon White rounded out the trio of double-figure scorers with 11 points to go with three steals.
The Gamecocks (6-0) out-rebounded the Eagles, 46-20. Welch and Tiffany Mitchell each grabbed 11 rebounds.
The Gamecocks will vie Saturday for the title of the Reef Division, taking on DePaul, which also won its first two games this weekend, at 3:30 p.m.
| USC | 32 | 33 | — | 65 |
| FGCU | 26 | 20 | — | 46 |
| USC | Min | FG-A | FT-A | OR-TR | A | PF | PT |
| Bruner | 27 | 7-12 | 1-3 | 3-4 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
| Welch | 23 | 6-7 | 2-3 | 6-11 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
| Walker | 25 | 2-6 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| White | 29 | 5-11 | 0-1 | 3-5 | 2 | 0 | 11 |
| Mitchell | 28 | 3-7 | 2-2 | 5-11 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| Sessions | 21 | 2-5 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Montout | 16 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 3-5 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Dozier | 16 | 1-6 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Ibiam | 15 | 0-3 | 2-4 | 1-4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Totals | 200 | 27-61 | 7-13 | 24-46 | 12 | 22 | 65 |
Percentages: FG .443, FT .538. 3-Point Goals: 4-15 .267 (Bruner 0-1, Walker 2-5, White 1-1, Sessions 1-3, Dozier 0-5). Team Rebounds: 3. Blocked Shots: 0. Turnovers: 15 (Bruner 3, Welch, Walker 2, White 2, Mitchell 3, Sessions, Montout, Dozier 2). Steals: 6 (Bruner, White 3, Mitchell, Sessions).
| FGCU | Min | FG-A | FT-A | OR-TR | A | PF | PT |
| Meador | 24 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 3-3 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Gradinjan | 21 | 1-5 | 1-2 | 0-3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Hansen | 29 | 7-12 | 3-4 | 3-6 | 3 | 2 | 18 |
| Adams | 36 | 0-6 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Iamstrong | 25 | 2-7 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Murrell | 6 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Moore | 12 | 1-1 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Haas | 10 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Chtzigiakmi | 17 | 2-6 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Gluesing | 20 | 2-4 | 1-3 | 0-1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Totals | 200 | 16-44 | 7-11 | 8-20 | 9 | 19 | 46 |
Percentages: FG .286, FT .636. 3-Point Goals: 7-29 (Gradinjan 1-3, Hansen 1-4, Adams 0-6, Iamstrong 2-6, Murrell 0-1, Moore 1-1, Haas 0-1, Chatzigiakoumi 2-6, Gluesing 0-1). Team Rebounds: 2. Blocked Shots: 2 (Chatzigiakoumi, Gluesing). Turnovers: 16 (Meador 2, Gradinjan 2, Adams 4, Iamstrong 3, Moore, Haas 2, Chatzigiakoumi, Gluesing). Steals: 6 (Hansen, Adams 2, Iamstrong 2, Moore).
Att.–486. Officials–Bryan Brunette, Geraldine Smith, Sue Blauch.
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