Ibiam's 18 points lead No. 8 South Carolina past Alabama 77-51

South Carolina's Elem Ibiam (33) drives for the basket as Alabama's Ashley Williams (3) tries to block during the first half of their NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014, in Columbia, SC. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain) (The Associated Press)

South Carolina's Aleighsa Welch (24) drives for the basket as Alabama's Nikki Hegstetter (13) tries to block during the first half of their NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014, in Columbia, SC. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain) (The Associated Press)

Elem Ibiam scored 18 points and No. 8 South Carolina bounced back from its first Southeastern Conference loss to blow past Alabama 77-51 on Sunday.

The Gamecocks (17-2, 5-1 SEC) had been at the top of the SEC until falling in overtime at Texas A&M on Thursday night. Ibiam and her teammates on the front line made sure that wouldn't happen again as they won their eighth straight game over the Crimson Tide (8-10, 1-4).

The 6-foot-4 Ibiam made 7 of 11 shots and added seven rebounds and two blocks. Six-foot Aleighsa Welch had 12 points and 10 boards, while 6-4 freshman Alaina Coates had 10 points and nine rebounds.

Alabama fell behind by double digits eight minutes in and could never close the gap. The Gamecocks eventually led 60-31 on Coates foul shots with 13 minutes to go.

Ashley Williams had 16 points to lead the Crimson Tide.