COLUMBIA — South Carolina women's basketball opened its home SEC play with an 85-66 victory over Mississippi State on Sunday at Colonial Life Arena.

The No. 1 Gamecocks (14-0, 2-0 SEC) were led by senior center Kamilla Cardoso, who had 13 points and 15 rebounds for her third straight double-double (and eighth of the season). Sophomore Chloe Kitts added 12 points and sophomore Ashlyn Watkins had nine points and 10 rebounds.

The Bulldogs (13-4, 0-2) were led by senior guard Jerkaila Jordan's 25 points and graduate guard Lauren Park-Lane's 14 points.

"We know what we've got to do when we get back to work," Mississippi State coach Sam Purcell said. "There's no moral victories, but again, I'm really proud with how we fought in one of the toughest environments in the country."

South Carolina carried a 10-point lead into halftime. It went on a 9-0 run toward the end of the first quarter, extending a two-point advantage into an 11-point lead.

Mississippi State fought back with a 7-0 run of its own, bringing the game back within five with under four minutes to go in the first half, but couldn't close the deficit any more.

Bree Hall leads South Carolina's scoring charge

Junior guard Bree Hall led four Gamecocks who scored in double digits with 15 points.

Hall scored double-digit points for the fourth time in five games after starting the season reaching double figures three times in nine games. She finished the night 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, her fifth game this season with three makes from beyond the arc.

Hall had eight of her points in the third quarter, including back-to-back 3-point makes.

Purcell said there wasn't much difference between preparing for last season's game, a 58-51 South Carolina win, and this year's.

"Last time I checked, (South Carolina coach Dawn Staley) still has five or six McDonald's All Americans coming off the bench," Purcell said. "Credit to them. It's mad respect."

Jerkaila Jordan puts up 25

Senior guard Jerkaila Jordan provided the spark for the Bulldogs' offense. Mississippi State's leading scorer this season had 25 points, four rebounds and three assists.

It was Jordan's seventh game of 20 or more points this season.

"We just went out there and fought," Jordan said. "Wasn't really much concern with the score, just more concerned with staying within the team and going out there as one. Giving our best punch."

She struggled from beyond the arc, missing her first five attempts. But she hit a 3-pointer with a hand in her face as the shot clock expired late in the game for her first make of the day.

South Carolina's free-throw shooting trends up

The Gamecocks shot 15 of 20 from the free-throw line, well better than their season average.

South Carolina entered Sunday's game shooting 65% from the free-throw line, No. 294 in the nation, but has shot 80% in its past two games. The Gamecocks finished 13 of 15 against Florida on Thursday.

South Carolina made its first eight free throws against Mississippi State.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: South Carolina basketball wins SEC home opener vs Mississippi State