College Sports

Worcester Academy’s Aliyah Boston set a triple-double record in her college debut

Boston is the first freshman in South Carolina's history to score a triple-double. She is also tied for the program's single-game record in blocks.

South Carolina freshman Aliyah Boston is the first freshman to record a triple-double for the Gamecocks. She is also now tied in program history in blocks (10) recorded in a single game. South Carolina Athletics

By Deyscha Smith

2 minutes to read

In her debut game, Aliyah Boston set records.

The freshman out of Worcester Academy made a statement on Tuesday in a 103-43 win against Alabama State. While the Gamecocks dominated the entire game, Boston was electric and finished with a triple-double of 12 points, 12 rebounds, and a record-setting 10 blocks.

She is the first freshman to score a triple-double in the NCAA since 2017, and the first ever at South Carolina. She is also only the seventh player in their program history to do so. Boston’s ninth block of the game, which came in the fourth quarter, set the record for most blocks by freshman, but her tenth block tied the school record currently held by Atlanta Dream center Alaina Coates.

Head coach Dawn Staley admitted after the game that she knew the freshman was just two blocks shy of tying the program record (10) by the fourth quarter, and made the decision to put Boston back in the game for “two or three minutes” to give her a chance chase at the feat. With 6:25 left in the game, Boston blocked a shot by Alabama State guard Jayla Crawford, solidifying her name in the record books.

“She’s got a promising future,” Staley said about Boston. “This is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Boston’s talent comes as no surprise given her successful high school career, where she was ranked third in the country, finished as Worcester Academy’s all-time leading scorer, and won a gold medal with Team USA. She also won Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year both her junior and senior season, and was a McDonalds All-American.

After Tuesday’s performance, she’s making the right steps in solidifying herself as a threat at South Carolina. Boston has said that her passion for the game comes from looking up to WNBA All-Stars such as Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne and former Gamecock A’ja Wilson, but she has now surpassed the single-game tally of eight blocks Wilson delivered during her four year career.

While she has a long way to go from catching up to Wilson’s all-time school record in blocks (363), Boston’s debut was both impressive and noteworthy as a freshman. She credits her performance on Tuesday to the support she got from her teammates.

“They were able to get me the ball and I was able to produce for them and then everything else just fell into place,” Boston said to The State.

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