Auburn Tigers at South Carolina Gamecocks

Wilson hurt in No. 9 South Carolina's 71-63 win over Auburn

Worried that her senior season might be hampered by injury? No, said teammate Tyasha Harris.

"She was the same happy-go-lucky," Harris said, smiling. "That's how she is."

Wilson had 19 points and 11 rebounds in No. 9 South Carolina's 71-63 victory over Auburn on Thursday night.

There was a hush in the loud crowd as Wilson was down on the court and, with help, hobbled into the locker room. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said Wilson sprained her ankle after stepping on someone's foot and would probably need a day off from practice to get ready to face No. 6 Tennessee on Sunday.

"We'll see how it is," Staley said. "She could probably take a day off and still play."

Wilson and the defending national champion Gamecocks (14-2, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) rebounded from their first SEC loss of the season Sunday at Missouri to win their eighth straight over the Tigers (10-6, 1-3). Not that it was easy.

Auburn whittled a 22-point second-quarter deficit to 62-56 on Janiah McKay's jumper with 5:36 to play. But that's when Harris responded with five straight points to rebuild the double-digit edge.

Before someone explained, Harris wasn't sure why everyone was cheering Wilson's foul shots that gave her the milestone.

"I call her my safehouse," said Harris, the team's starting point guard.

Harris was the only other South Carolina player in double figures with 12 points.

McKay led Auburn with 27 points and Daisa Alexander had 16.

BIG PICTURE

Auburn: It's still a struggle against the SEC's better teams for the Tigers. After losing to ranked teams Texas A&M and Tennessee, Auburn fell behind South Carolina by 20 points in the opening quarter and could never catch up. McKay had 15 points in the first two quarters, with the rest of her teammates totaling 10. Auburn will have to find some consistent scoring from someone other than McKay if it hopes to move up in the league.

South Carolina: For anyone wondering if an SEC loss last game would rattle Wilson and the Gamecocks, they tossed those worries aside early. Things will get harder Sunday against sixth-ranked Tennessee.

IN THE BALLPARK

Staley liked her team's start, just not its final three quarters. Staley said when the Gamecocks get up early, they can lose focus and look to make stunning, ooh-and-ahh, no-look passes and long 3-pointers. "We try to swing for the fences and hit home runs," she said. "Singles are fine. Doubles are fine."

SEVEN-POINT POSSESSION

Auburn's rally got a big boost late in the third quarter with a seven-point possession. Alexander hit a 3-pointer as Mikiah Herbert-Harrigan was called for a foul away from the ball, and McKay hit both those foul shots. A foul by Harris right after sent Alexander to the line for two more made free throws, cutting South Carolina's 55-41 lead to 55-48 in a 20-second span.

UP NEXT

Auburn ends a brutal run of three consecutive ranked opponents when it plays Arkansas at home Sunday.

South Carolina faces its third ranked opponent in five games when it faces No. 6 Tennessee at home.

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How can I watch Tigers vs. Gamecocks?

• TV Channel: Tigers vs Gamecocks 2021 College Basketball, week 10, is broadcasted on SECN+.
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