COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH/AP) -- Aleighsa Welch scored 13 points, Ieasia Walker added 12 and No. 18 South Carolina played its usual fierce defense to beat Vanderbilt 64-48 Thursday night.

The Gamecocks (14-2, 2-1 Southeastern Conference), ranked third nationally in scoring defense at 47.4 points per game, held an opponent below 50 for the 12th time in 16 games.

Vanderbilt (12-4, 2-1), which had won nine straight, was averaging 71.9 points per game but shot just 26.5 percent (13 of 49).

Sancheon White helped drive the defensive effort, pulling in eight rebounds, blocking three shots and picking up three steals..

Coach Dawn Staley showered the senior with praise after the game.

"I said in the locker that if we had a game ball to give out, [Sancheon White] would have gotten it," said Staley. "She has taken the challenge of defending and pretty much shutting down our opponents best offensive player. We also tried to open Sancheon up to scoring a little bit more. She is the quickest thing out there. She just played with a certain tenacity, a refuse to lose attitude, and I think it was contagious throughout our entire team."

After the Commodores took an early 7-4 lead, the Gamecocks outscored them 25-5 over the next 11:05 for a 29-12 lead. After that run, in which Welch had eight points, South Carolina's lead never dipped below 10.

Jasmine Lister and Heather Bowe scored 11 each for Vanderbilt and Christina Foggie had nine, giving the junior 1,004 career points.