South Carolina Basketball: Aliyah Boston has breakout game
By Kevin Miller
It comes as no surprise to most who follow women’s basketball that Aliyah Boston has transitioned well to the professional game. The former South Carolina basketball star made history just last week when she had her third straight game to start her career scoring in double-figures with a 60% shooting percentage. The WNBA Rookie of the Month for May extended that mark to four games before fellow Gamecock A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas ended the streak.
After her one “off” game, Boston bounced back in a big way. The 6’5” post player put up her first career double-double in a game against the Chicago Sky when she scored 25 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Both numbers were new highs for her young WNBA career.
The first year player was known for her defense in college, and that has translated to the next level as well. Even in the more spread-out professional game, Boston is averaging over a block per games and has been a huge deterrent to opposing drivers with her ability to alter shots.
Aliyah Boston is not the only South Carolina basketball alum to have been drafted into the WNBA this past April. In fact, five total Gamecocks were selected.
Fellow Indiana Fever rookie and Gamecock captain Victaria Saxton has played a reserve role for the team this season.
Laeticia Amihere is also playing a deeper bench role for the Atlanta Dream but flashed an 8-point, 6-rebound performance in just 15 minutes against the Washington Mystics.
Los Angeles Sparks 1st-round pick Zia Cooke has played a key role off the bench as a secondary ball handler and has shown the aggressiveness as a scorer that is necessary for small guards to score in the WNBA.
Brea Beal was, unfortunately, a casualty of a roster crunch with the overcrowded Minnesota Lynx and was waived before playing a game.