After breaking the conference record for most consecutive double-doubles, South Carolina Gamecocks forward Aliyah Boston was named the 2022 SEC Player of the Year.
With 20 consecutive double-doubles on the season, Boston averaged 16.8 points and 11.9 rebounds to lead the Gamecocks to an impressive 27-1 record and the No.1 seed in the upcoming SEC tournament.
In addition to this, Boston and point guard Destanni Henderson was voted First Team All-SEC by the league’s head coaches. Henderson averaged 11.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. Junior guard Zia Cooke was named Second Team All-SEC after putting up 11.5 points per game, good for third on the team. After leading the Gamecocks to their sixth regular-season title, coach Dawn Staley was named SEC Coach of the Year for the fifth time.
“The main goal is just coming here, winning every game and making it all the way,” Boston said after a February 17 victory over Auburn.
The Gamecocks have their sites set on the SEC tournament in Nashville this weekend after leading the women’s basketball rankings for much of the season. The Gamecocks will meet the winner of the Arkansas and Missouri matchup in the quarterfinal round. Winning the SEC tournament will likely cement their status as No.1 overall seed for the NCAA Tournament.
South Carolina is also looking for their seventh conference title since 2015 and completing a three-peat for the first time since winning four straight championships from 2015-2018.
