Top-ranked South Carolina holds off Gonzaga
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Destanni Henderson scored a career-high 23 points and Zia Cooke added 16 to help No. 1 South Carolina top 21st-ranked Gonzaga 79-72 on Sunday in the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic.
It was the second straight game that the Gamecocks faced a tough challenge from their opponent.
Henderson earned tournament MVP honors as she scored 19 points and had nine rebounds in the opening round win over South Dakota.
Against Gonzaga, Henderson was scoreless in the first half before going 6 for 12 in the third and fourth quarters. She was 10 for 13 from the free throw line over that span.
After Jill Townsend’s 3-pointer for Gonzaga gave the Bulldogs a 62-60 lead with six minutes to play, South Carolina (3-0) got the lead back up to eight in the final 90 seconds. The Bulldogs hit nine 3-pointers, including one by Cierra Walker with 54 seconds to play to cut it to 74-70.
Jenn Wirth scored 16 points, two shy of her career high, to lead Gonzaga (0-1). Jill Townsend added 14 for the Bulldogs.
BIG PICTURE
South Carolina shot 48 percent from the field, and they needed all of it. Gonzaga shot 52 percent from the field in the loss.
UP NEXT
South Carolina: hosts North Carolina State on Thursday.
Gonzaga: Plays South Dakota at the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic on Monday.