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Top-ranked South Carolina women handle No. 3 LSU in showdown of unbeatens

AP photo by Nell Redmond / South Carolina guard Zia Cooke drives to the basket against LSU forward Sa'Myah Smith during Sunday's game in Columbia, S.C. Cooke scored 17 points as the No. 1 Gamecocks beat No. 3 LSU 88-64 in a matchup of the final two unbeaten Division I teams this season.
AP photo by Nell Redmond / South Carolina guard Zia Cooke drives to the basket against LSU forward Sa'Myah Smith during Sunday's game in Columbia, S.C. Cooke scored 17 points as the No. 1 Gamecocks beat No. 3 LSU 88-64 in a matchup of the final two unbeaten Division I teams this season.

By PETE IACOBELLI / The Associated Press 4 min read

COLUMBIA, S.C. — LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey understands dominance and saw it again Sunday.

“It’s South Carolina, in my opinion,” she said flatly, “and it’s everybody else.”

Kamilla Cardoso had 18 points and 13 rebounds, Zia Cooke scored 17 points, and the top-ranked Gamecocks continued their undefeated season with an 88-64 victory over No. 3 LSU in a matchup of the Southeastern Conference’s top two teams.

Reigning national champion South Carolina (25-0, 12-0) has won 31 straight games since a two-point loss to Kentucky in last year SEC tournament title game. In the showdown of Division I’s final two undefeateds this season, it was no contest — something Mulkey has had experience with in the past.

Mulkey led Baylor to three NCAA titles, with the Lady Bears’ 2011-12 crown coming with a 40-0 team that included future WNBA No. 1 draft pick Brittney Griner. It won’t surprise Mulkey if these Gamecocks pull off that feat this season, especially after she saw how they handled her rising Tigers (23-1, 11-1).