COLUMBIA, S.C. - Aliyah Boston had 26 points, 16 rebounds and six blocks, and No. 4 South Carolina beat No. 15 Arkansas 104-82 on Monday night for its 24th straight win over SEC foes.
On a day when South Carolina (10-1, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) celebrated its most famous post player by dedicating a bronze statue of A'ja Wilson at the arena, the Gamecocks current force down low took control of the things in beating the Razorbacks (11-5, 2-4).
The 6-foot-5 Boston accomplished her fifth double-double of the season by halftime and the Gamecocks pulled away to win for the 14th time in their past 15 meetings with Arkansas.
The Razorbacks and Chelsea Dungee were the last league team to defeat South Carolina, winning 95-89 in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals two years ago. The Gamecocks haven't lost to a conference opponent since including four meetings with Arkansas.
Boston's play was again a big reason why. She had six points, eight rebounds and five blocks in the first quarter as the Gamecocks opened a 28-17 lead.
Behind Dungee, the Razorbacks were able to keep things tight. Dungee had five points in a 9-2 burst that cut into South Carolina's double-digit lead.
Arkansas trailed 62-59 after Erynn Barnum's basket late in the third quarter. That's when South Carolina scored nine straight points to gain control. Boston had a three-point play and another bucket in the run.
Dungee, the SEC's leading scorer, had 22 points to lead Arkansas.
Brea Beal had 22 points, setting a South Carolina career high in scoring for a second straight game following the 17 points she had in a 106-43 win at Vanderbilt last Thursday night.
Boston, a sophomore, had her 18th career game with double figure points and rebounds.
THE BIG PICTURE
Arkansas: The Razorbacks have struggled in SEC play, losing to four teams currently ranked in their first six league games. The high-scoring Dungee was only 8-of-18 shooting against the Gamecocks and Arkansas will need more contributions to get things going in the difficult conference.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks look like a different team than they did in early December when they took their only loss, 54-46, to No. 2 North Carolina State. South Carolina's Boston, Beal and Zia Cooke are all playing at a championship-caliber level.
A'JA'S HONOR
Wilson was moved to tears at the dedication ceremony on MLK Day, remembering how her late grandmother had to walk around campus to get where she was going because she was Black. Wilson wished she were alive to see "the same grounds that houses a statue of her granddaughter." Wilson was a three-time All-America with the Gamecocks, leading the team to three SEC titles and the NCAA Tournament title in 2017.
UP NEXT
Arkansas is off for a week before playing at No. 22 Georgia on Jan. 25.
South Carolina plays a rescheduled game with No. 22 Georgia on Thursday night.