No. 4 Gamecock women coast past No. 25 Kentucky, 75-63

South Carolina’s A’ja Wilson (22) shoots while defended by Kentucky’s Evelyn Akhator during the first quarter of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Alaina Coates had 20 points and a season-high 18 rebounds, and No. 4 South Carolina used an 18-point run in the second quarter to pull away from No. 25 Kentucky for a 75-63 victory Thursday night.

A’ja Wilson also scored 20 for South Carolina. Eager to rebound from Monday’s upset loss at home to Tennessee, the Gamecocks succeeded by holding the Wildcats without a field goal for the final 6:41 of the second and outscoring them 22-8.

Coates matched her career high on the boards and Wilson grabbed nine rebounds as South Carolina (19-2, 9-1 Southeastern Conference) beat Kentucky for the fourth straight time.

Allisha Gray added 11 points as the Gamecocks shot 50 percent and outscored Kentucky 34-20 in the paint.

Makayla Epps’ 23 points led the Wildcats (15-8, 6-4), who shot 34 percent and lost their second straight.

THE BIG PICTURE

South Carolina: Other than a third-quarter technical for wildly striking Kentucky’s Evelyn Akhator, fouls weren’t an issue for the 6-foot-4 Coates or 6-5 Wilson as they made life tough for the Wildcats on both ends by shooting a combined 16 of 23. But it was Gray’s eight points in the second that provided the boost that helped the Gamecocks break open the game by halftime.

Kentucky: The Wildcats stayed close for one quarter before going cold in a 2-for-15 second that included five turnovers that led to easy Gamecocks baskets. Rebounding already figured to be difficult against South Carolina’s tall tandem, and that was reflected in a 40-29 deficit on the glass.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

South Carolina bounced back from the Tennessee loss with a dominant road win that should keep the Gamecocks in the top five. Kentucky’s return to the Top 25 should be brief after its second consecutive loss.

UP NEXT

South Carolina: The Gamecocks visit Arkansas on Sunday.

Kentucky: Hosts Vanderbilt on Sunday in an attempt to end its second two-game slide of the season.