The No. 2 South Carolina women’s basketball team picked up a win Thursday night against No. 19 Alabama, 76-58 to improve to 6-0 in SEC play.
The Gamecocks are now 33-15 all-time against Alabama, and 23-0 under head coach Dawn Staley. Tonight’s matchup marks the first meeting between these teams in which both are ranked nationally.
This was the Crimson Tide’s first home loss of the season.
“It’s a hard place to play,” head coach Dawn Staley said. “For us it’s always been a hard place for us to play, and that was directly related to her preparing her team to make it hard for us.”
The Gamecocks led 21-12 after the first quarter, with freshman forward Joyce Edwards leading the team with 6 points and going 100% from the free throw line. South Carolina scored 11 points off the bench in the opening quarter alone.
South Carolina held a 38-30 lead going into the half, but showed shooting struggles in the second quarter. In the games second period, the Gamecocks shot 36.8% from the field and 0% from behind the arc with sophomore guard MiLayisa Fulwiley posted the team’s only made three in the first half.
The Gamecocks were then outscored 18-16 in the third quarter with Alabama increasing it's defensive intensity, something Staley noted following the game.
“What we weren’t doing is executing,” Staley said. “They made it hard for us to catch, we weren’t getting open.”
Despite this, the Gamecocks finished the game on an 12-2 run in the last 4:30 of the game to end the contest with an 18 point win.
Four Gamecocks put up more than 10 points in the win. Junior forward Chloe Kitts recorded her fifth double double of the year, with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
“Chloe’s been doing a great job at just head down and going,” Staley said. “She’s a veteran at this.”
National Player of the Year candidate and fifth-year guard Te-Hina Paopao had an all around night as well. Paopao recorded 11 points, five assists and shot 50% from the field.
The team dominated the Crimson Tide off the glass, gathering 51 total rebounds.
South Carolina also was able to get significant performance from its bench, as it scored 43 of its 76 points compared to just 2 bench points from the Crimson Tide.
Young stars shine bright
Edwards and Fulwiley led the Gamecocks in points against the Crimson Tide.
Joyce Edwards put up a career high 21 points. Edwards had 6 rebounds, shot 70% from the field and 100% from the free throw line, with Staley speaking highly of the freshman's performance after today’s game.
“Joyce is special,” Staley said. “She’s a relentless worker, she’s a tireless worker.”
Fulwiley gathered 16 points, while also securing the Gamecocks second best three-point percentage on the night at 25%.
Starting off strong
The Gamecocks came out of the gates quickly, putting up 21 points in the first quarter and was also able to hold Alabama to 12. These strong starts to games is something that has helped South Carolina maintain and build off leads.
“It’s crucial for us to get off to quick starts, because that’s something we haven’t done consistently all season long,” Staley said. “We needed the cushion in order for us to just hold onto the lead, and hold onto some momentum.”
Tough road ahead
Thursday’s win against the Crimson Tide is the second of five consecutive games against ranked opponents, however, the Gamecocks are no stranger to playing ranked teams this season, playing five of them before starting conference play.
South Carolina also continues its winning streak in the SEC as it has now won 52 consecutive wins in conference play. An SEC opponent has not beaten the Gamecocks since the 2022 SEC Championship game against Kentucky.
What’s Next?
The Gamecocks take on No. 13 Oklahoma at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia on Jan. 19. Tip off is set for 3 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.