COLUMBIA, S.C. | The Alabama State University women's basketball fell to the defending national champion, fourth-ranked Gamecocks of the University of South Carolina 99-31 at Colonial Life Arena to open the season Friday night.
 
Amber Hunt led Alabama State (0-1) with eight points, with a pair of three-pointers, while Victoria Harvey grabbed a team-high nine rebounds off the bench.
 
Alabama State was held to 20.4 (11-of-54) percent shooting from the floor, while connecting on 33.3 (3-of-9) percent from beyond the arc.
 
Meanwhile, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan led four South Carolina (1-0) players in double figures with 18 points. A'ja Wilson recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Lindsey Spann added 16 and Doniyah Cliney 15.
 
South Carolina shot 51.4 (37-of-72) percent from the floor and just 26.3 (5-of-19) percent from beyond the arc.
 
The night began with the Gamecocks receiving their national championship rings and the banner being unveiled inside the Colonial Life Arena.
 
"This is history," Alabama State University head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson said. "This was history for them being able to raise their banner and receive their championship rings. Maybe it will motivate our young ladies to get back to the NCAA tournament."
  
Alabama State returns to action against Savannah State on Monday. The game tips off at 7 pm inside the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.

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