By GEORGE HENRY
Associated Press
DULUTH, Ga. (AP) - Elem Ibiam scored 19 points, Ashley Bruner pulled down 14 rebounds and No. 17 South Carolina easily defeated Alabama 77-35 in the second round of the Southeastern Conference tournament on Thursday.
Alabama's total was a record low for the tournament, one fewer than the 36 scored by Mississippi State in the Tide's 63-36 play-in victory Wednesday. That matched the 36 scored by Alabama against LSU in 2011 and by Mississippi against LSU in 2008
The Gamecocks (24-6) will face No. 19 Texas A&M in the quarterfinals on Friday. The victory was their eighth straight over Alabama under fifth-year coach Dawn Staley.
Alabama (13-18) ended the season by losing 11 of its last 12 games. Daisha Simmons led the Crimson Tide with 10 points.
South Carolina began to assert its size and speed midway through the first half. Sancheon White's 3-pointer gave the Gamecocks their first double-digit lead, 21-9, 10:47 before halftime.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
