South Carolina topples Charleston Southern 99-29

Alaina Coates came off the bench to score 20 points in her college debut Friday night, leading No. 22 South Carolina to a season-opening 99-29 victory over Charleston Southern.

A prized recruit for coach Dawn Staley, Coates, a 6-foot-4 center out of Irmo, S.C., helped Dutch Fork High School go undefeated last year and capture its second straight state title.

The game was a runaway from the opening tip, and South Carolina closed the first half on a 30-5 run to take a 52-13 lead at halftime.

Elem Ibiam made all seven of her field goal attempts to finish with 17 points for the Gamecocks. No South Carolina starter played more than 21 minutes

Charleston Southern shot 10 of 54 from the field. Alyssa Mann led the Buccaneers of the Big South Conference with nine points.