ATHENS, Ga. -- Bianca Cuevas scored 16 points and top-ranked South Carolina protected its undefeated record by beating No. 22 Georgia 58-35 on Thursday night.

South Carolina (22-0, 10-0 Southeastern Conference) plays at No. 2 Connecticut on Monday night in a matchup of the nation's top two teams.

Tiffany Mitchell had 14 points for the Gamecocks.

Georgia (17-6, 5-5) has lost three straight -- all to Top 10 teams.

Aleighsa Welch had two points, 14 rebounds and three of the Gamecocks' 10 blocked shots, which matched their season high.

Georgia starting forward Krista Donald, the team's leading rebounder, was suspended for the game for an undisclosed violation of team rules in another blow to the squads depth. The Lady Bulldogs lost scoring leader Shacobia Barbee to a season-ending leg injury Jan. 25.

The Gamecocks also were missing their leading rebounder. Sophomore center Alaina Coates also was suspended for a violation of team rules.

Coates is only one of three South Carolina players listed as 6-foot-4 or taller. The Gamecocks were able to adjust to Coates' absence against the smaller Lady Bulldogs. Georgia has no player taller than 6-foot-2.

No team has scored more than 63 points against the Gamecocks, and only two have shot over 40 percent from the field. Georgia didn't come close to either mark as it shot 21 percent (12 of 58).

Georgia freshman Mackenzie Engram had eight points in her first start, including the game's first basket. It was the Lady Bulldogs' only lead.

South Carolina immediately established its dominance inside. Elem Ibiam, who drew a flagrant foul in the opening minute, made up for the mistake with an early blocked shot on Merritt Hempe. The 6-foot-4 Ibiam's presence was a factor even when she wasn't blocking shots. With Ibiam looming near the basket, Hempe missed the rim on her next attempted layup.

The team-record 22 straight wins ties the longest streak for any South Carolina sport.

There was a moment of silence before the game for the victims of Thursday's shooting on the South Carolina campus.

TIP-INS

South Carolina: The Gamecocks improved to only 3-15 at Stegeman Coliseum but have won four straight overall in the series. ... The Gamecocks' 2000 baseball and 1979-80 women's tennis teams also had 22 consecutive wins. ... Ibiam had eight points, three rebounds and two blocks before fouling out.

Georgia: Georgia made only 5 of 28 shots from the field (17.9 percent) while setting a season low with 14 first-half points. ... Donald leads the team with 7.0 rebounds per game. ... Georgia has never beaten a top-ranked team in seven tries at home and fell to 3-17 overall against No. 1 teams. ... Georgia's 18-game home winning streak ended, included a 12-0 record in Athens this season. ... Haley Clark had eight points

UP NEXT

South Carolina: Visits No. 2 Connecticut on Monday.

Georgia: Visits Arkansas on Monday.