The No. 2 South Carolina women's basketball team extended its winning streak to 16 games with an 83-66 victory over the Auburn Tigers at Colonial Life Arena. With this win, the Gamecocks remain undefeated in SEC play, improving its conference record to 9-0.
Prior to tipoff, South Carolina honored one of its greatest players as former Gamecock forward A'ja Wilson had her jersey retired in a special ceremony. A two-time Olympic gold medalist, three-time WNBA MVP and WNBA champion, Wilson's legacy was cemented as her No. 22 jersey was unfurled from the rafters in front of a packed arena.
South Carolina started strong by setting the tone early in the first quarter against Auburn. Auburn’s senior guard Mar’shaun Bostic committed an early turnover, leading to a fast-break jumper from senior forward Sania Feagin off an assist from junior guard Raven Johnson to put South Carolina on the board.
Struggling to find its rhythm, Auburn missed several early shots while South Carolina capitalized going on a 7-2 run to jump out to an early 9-2 lead in the first quarter. Senior guard Te-Hina Paopao led the team in scoring with 5 points early during the run.
The final minute saw back-and-forth action, with Auburn's Bostic and graduate forward Taylen Collins keeping their team in the game, but freshman forward Joyce Edwards capped off an impressive first quarter with a fast-break jumper, assisted by freshman guard Maddy McDaniel, to give South Carolina a 23-18 lead heading into the second quarter.
South Carolina took control in the second quarter, fending off Auburn’s attempts to close the gap. Junior forward Chloe Kitts made an impact off the bench, scoring 5 straight points, including a 3-pointer that pushed the lead by 5 points.
A fast break layup by Edwards extended the advantage, and the Gamecock defense forced multiple Auburn turnovers. Edwards hit a free throw that gave the Gamecocks a 40-30 lead heading into halftime.
South Carolina maintained its lead over Auburn in a competitive third quarter, executing key plays on both ends of the floor. The period began with substitutions for both teams before Auburn senior forward DeYona Gaston sank two free throws, cutting the deficit to 8 points.
As the quarter wound down, South Carolina capitalized on Auburn’s turnovers, with sophomore guard MiLaysia Fulwiley and sophomore guard Tessa Johnson converting at the free-throw line to stretch the margin. Fulwiley added a layup off a steal, and Raven Johnson sank two more free throws in the final seconds, giving South Carolina a 62-49 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
South Carolina asserted its dominance in the fourth quarter against Auburn, steadily extending its lead to secure a victory. The Gamecocks capitalized on Auburn’s turnovers early in the quarter, with Tessa Johnson’s steal leading to a fast-break layup by Fulwiley.
Auburn attempted to close the gap in fourth quarter but was outscored 21-17 by the Gamecocks to end the game. Back-to-back 3-pointers from senior guard Bree Hall put the game out of reach for the Tigers. By the end of the quarter, the Gamecocks had outpaced Auburn, closing out a strong performance with an 83-66 victory.
Defensive dominance
The Gamecocks' defense was a significant factor, recording 16 steals, the second-highest total of the season. Raven Johnson contributed six steals in the game against Auburn, which is the highest amount of steals for her this season.
"We started boxing out in the second half, they got less offensive rebounds, we started turning over the ball less and we came out with the win,” Edwards said.
South Carolina's defense not only limited Auburn's scoring but also forced several turnovers that led to fast-break opportunities. Its relentless pressure throughout the game kept Auburn off balance, contributing to South Carolina's ability to control the tempo of the game and dominate ball possession.
Balanced scoring attack
South Carolina had a well-rounded offensive performance. Edwards led with 18 points, while Kitts contributed 13 points and nine rebounds. Additionally, Fulwiley added 17 points, providing a multi-faceted scoring threat that kept Auburn's defense on their heels.
"(Head coach Dawn Staley) said I needed to shoot the ball, she said that like nine times and just on that one possession," Kitts said.
The Gamecocks' ability to execute both inside and from the perimeter made it difficult for Auburn to key in on any one player. Eight Gamecock players contributed points throughout the game, with four of them —Edwards, Fulwiley, Hall, and Kitts —reaching double digits in scoring.
Home court advantage
The Gamecocks extended its home winning streak to 70 games, setting a new SEC record. The support of the home crowd at Colonial Life Arena provided an energetic atmosphere that fueled the Gamecocks' performance.
"(Our fans) create an experience that if you don't come here, you're going to feel like you're missing out," Staley said.
What's next?
The Gamecocks (21-1, 9-0 SEC) will travel to Athens, Georgia, where it will face the Georgia Bulldogs (9-13, 1-7 SEC) on Feb. 6. The game will tip off at 6 p.m. and air live on the SEC Network.