Davis scores 21 points, (5) Carolina tops Auburn

South Carolina guard Kaela Davis releases the ball against Auburn guard Erica Sanders during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, in Auburn, Ala. South Carolina won 73-47. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Kaela Davis scored all 21 of her points in the first half in No. 5 South Carolina’s 73-47 victory over Auburn on Thursday night.

Bianca Cuervas-Moore added a season-high 19 points, and A’ja Wilson had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Gamecocks (12-1, 2-0 Southeastern Conference). They raced to a 23-2 lead and had a 29-6 advantage after the first quarter as Auburn’s full-court press failed to stymie South Carolina’s offensive attack.

Katie Frerking led Auburn (11-5, 1-1) with 16 points. The Tigers held South Carolina below its SEC-leading average of 82.3 points, but shot just 27.6 from the field in the game — going 2 for 13 in the first quarter.

BIG PICTURE

South Carolina: Coming off a 48-point win against Alabama to open SEC play, the Gamecocks ran roughshod over another SEC team in their bid for a fourth consecutive regular-season SEC title.

Auburn: The Tigers were coming off a seven-point win over Florida to open SEC play, but South Carolina’s size advantage on the inside and efficiency from the field was too much to overcome.

UP NEXT

South Carolina: At Florida on Sunday.

Auburn: Host Mississippi on Sunday.