Aliyah Boston was at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte on Sunday for the Ally Tipoff game between South Carolina and North Carolina State. Boston sat courtside in her alma mater’s 71-57 win against the Wolfpack. The pro-Gamecocks arena gave the defending champs a standing ovation after hurdling a tough challenge from their rivals.
The Indiana Fever star went on Instagram to share a photo of South Carolina huddling before the game. She captioned the post:
“Cocks over everybody”
The sea of black and garnet, South Carolina’s colors, dominated the arena. It was obvious from the tip-off who the fans came to cheer for. Te-Hina Paopao and MiLaysia Fulwiley ensured their fans didn’t go home disappointed. The two combined for 41 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Aliyah Boston and the fans watched a thrilling showdown. The game was a defensive slugfest, with the Gamecocks barely winning the first three quarters. South Carolina showed the poise it needed to hold off the gritty Wolfpack. The team’s championship mettle stood out against North Carolina’s challenge.
Aliyah Boston led South Carolina to the 2022 NCAA Division 1 women’s championship
Aliyah Boston was a junior at South Carolina when she led the Gamecocks to the 2022 NCAA Division 1 women's championship. Against UConn in the title game, Boston had 11 points, 16 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Her inside dominance was a key reason in SC’s 64-49 win versus the Huskies.
The Gamecocks also got a big lift from Destanni Henderson, who finished with 26 points, four assists, three steals and two rebounds. Boston, though, was the focal point of everything South Carolina ran against UConn.
For her efforts, Boston earned the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player. She impressed analysts and the fans for the entire year. In 2022, she was named the AP Player of the Year and the Naismith College Player of the Year. The John Wooden R. Award was the icing on the cake for the 6-foot-5 center.