South Carolina Halts Vanderbilt’s Perfect Season in Women’s Basketball
The South Carolina women’s basketball team put on a show Sunday, handing Vanderbilt its first loss of the season with a commanding 103-74 win. This victory avenged South Carolina’s recent overtime stumble against Oklahoma and left UConn as the last undefeated team in women’s college basketball.
The Gamecocks played with confidence, leading by double digits for most of the night. They shot a wild 62% from the field, which is just hard to beat.
Senior Ta’Niya Latson and junior guard Tessa Johnson really set the tone. They made sure South Carolina stayed in control. Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes had a strong night, but the Commodores just couldn’t keep up and took their first loss.
South Carolina’s Dominating Performance
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This win said a lot about how well South Carolina plays together. The Gamecocks went 10-for-17 from three, which is nearly 59%—not something you see every day.
Latson led the scoring with 21 points. Johnson added 20, knocking down four out of seven from deep. That’s her fourth straight game in double figures, by the way.
Key Players and Their Contributions
Some players really stood out for South Carolina:
- Ta’Niya Latson: The senior led with 21 points.
- Tessa Johnson: Johnson scored 20 and hit four threes.
- Madina Okot: The Mississippi State transfer owned the paint, scoring 17 on 8-for-9 shooting.
- Joyce Edwards: She chipped in 16 points, staying consistent as the team’s top scorer.
Vanderbilt’s Struggles
Mikayla Blakes did what she could, finishing with 23 points. Still, Vanderbilt couldn’t match South Carolina’s pace.
Blakes’ run of 25-plus point games on the road ended here. South Carolina’s defense deserves some credit for that. Senior Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda was the only other Commodore in double figures, with 13 points.
Challenges Faced by Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt ran into a bunch of problems during the game:
- Justine Pissott: The senior got stuck in foul trouble and managed only eight points.
- Aubrey Galvan: The freshman put up seven points.
- Turnovers: The Commodores coughed up the ball 20 times, which really hurt them.
- Rebounding: South Carolina dominated the boards, and Vanderbilt couldn’t keep up there either.
Looking Ahead
Vanderbilt now sits at 20-1. They’ll try to regroup and get back on track against No. 18 Ole Miss this Thursday.
South Carolina, at 20-2, will face Auburn next, hoping to keep up the momentum.
Implications for the Season
This game really matters for both teams. The stakes feel high right now:
- Vanderbilt: The Commodores have to regroup. They’ll need to fix the issues that popped up if they want to keep their season on track.
- South Carolina: The Gamecocks showed everyone they’re a force. They look ready to take on just about anyone in the league.
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