FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Ashley Bruner scored 11 points and No. 18 South Carolina held off Arkansas 43-40 on Sunday.

South Carolina (18-3, 6-2 Southeastern), which has won four in a row, didn't score after Aleighsa Welch's three-point play made it 43-36 Gamecocks with 3:44 to play. But Arkansas' last points came on Calli Berna's 3-pointer with 59 seconds to go.

Bruner also had seven assists and five steals. Tiffany Mitchell had eight points and a team-high eight rebounds for the Gamecocks, off to their best SEC start since 2001-02.

Arkansas (14-6, 2-5) was led by Jhasmin Bowen with 13 points. Berna and Quistelle Williams each had 10 rebounds for the Razorbacks.

South Carolina has allowed 60 or more points in a game only once this season, ranking third in the nation in scoring defense entering the week.

The Gamecocks host Auburn at 3 p.m. next Sunday.

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SOUTH CAROLINA (18-3)

Bruner 5-12 1-6 11, Welch 3-5 1-1 7, Walker 2-10 1-2 7, White 2-5 0-0 5, Mitchell 3-9 2-2 8, Sessions 1-3 1-2 3, Montout 0-1 0-0 0, Dozier 0-1 0-0 0, Ibiam 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 17-48 6-13 43.<

ARKANSAS (14-6)

Peak 1-8 0-4 2, Williams 4-7 0-0 8, Bowen 6-10 1-2 13, Berna 2-9 2-4 7, Wilson 2-6 0-0 5, Watkins 0-4 0-0 0, Gatling 1-5 2-2 5, Robinson 0-0 0-0 0, Bailey 0-1 0-0 0, Wolff 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-50 5-12 40.<

Halftime: South Carolina 28-22. 3-Point Goals: South Carolina 3-14 (Walker 2-6, White 1-3, Dozier 0-1, Montout 0-1, Bruner 0-1, Mitchell 0-2), Arkansas 3-12 (Gatling 1-2, Wilson 1-3, Berna 1-4, Williams 0-1, Peak 0-2). Fouled Out: None. Rebounds: South Carolina 31 (Mitchell 8), Arkansas 38 (Berna, Williams 10). Assists: South Carolina 9 (Walker 3), Arkansas 10 (Berna 6). Total Fouls: South Carolina 10, Arkansas 14. Attendance: 2,321.