That the upstate New York crowd wasn’t rooting for South Carolina did not matter one bit to A’ja Wilson. Her imposing presence inside and her booming voice proved enough for the Gamecocks to escape the University at Buffalo in the N.C.A.A. women’s basketball tournament.
The 6-foot-5 Wilson, the consensus first pick in the next W.N.B.A. draft, had 20 points and 13 rebounds, Alexis Jennings added 20 points and South Carolina held off the Bulls, 79-63, on Saturday afternoon to keep alive its quest to successfully defend its national title.
“I just feel like my energy really helps my teammates,” Wilson said.