Coates, Wilson prepping for bigger roles with South Carolina

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A’ja Wilson and Alaina Coates were South Carolina’s high-scoring duo off the bench in the women’s basketball team’s first-ever Final Four season. Now, both are preparing to make an even bigger impact on the Gamecocks next season, this time as starters.

The 6-foot-5 Wilson and 6-4 Coates were the second and third leading scorers for South Carolina, which won a second straight Southeastern Conference title and won a school-record 34 games before losing to Notre Dame in the national semifinals last month.

Wilson earned SEC freshman of the year honors, averaging 13.1 points and 6.6 rebounds and leading the Gamecocks with 65 blocks. Coates was second-team all-SEC with 11 points and 7.9 rebounds a game.

The two formed a nearly unstoppable pairing that often rescued South Carolina after slow starts.