COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Aliyah Boston will be examined Monday after leaving No. 1 South Carolina’s 85-38 win over Hampton on Sunday with her right foot in a walking boot.
Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said the reigning Associated Press Player of the Year was “questionable” going forward but added that the “team doctor wasn’t too, too concerned.”
“We’re going to be on the safe side,” Staley said.
South Carolina’s next game is Tuesday at home against No. 20 UCLA.
Boston didn’t return to the court for the second half after a hard fall prior to the break for the defending national champions. The Most Outstanding Player of last spring’s NCAA Tournament was driving for the basket when she fell and took several moments to get up after getting fouled.
Boston, the 6-foot-5 senior, missed two foul shots and ran down the floor on defense. Staley then subbed out Boston, who walked into the tunnel toward the locker room.
Boston rejoined teammates for warmups before the third quarter but was not on the bench when play resumed. She later re-emerged in the boot and cheered on the Gamecocks down the stretch.
She had averaged 13 points and 10.6 rebounds in South Carolina’s first five games, all wins. She had six points and four boards before leaving Sunday.
The Gamecocks hadn’t played at home since the opener Nov. 7, when they unfurled their NCAA Tournament title banner and received their championship rings. A productive road trip followed, with victories at No. 14 Maryland and at No. 2 Stanford in overtime.
___
AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
