South Carolina Dominates SEC with Victory Over LSU
Jan 24, 2025, 08:16 PM ET
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina once again demonstrated their dominance in the SEC, leaving no doubt about who reigns supreme. The No. 2 Gamecocks (19-1, 7-0 SEC) showcased their prowess with a 66-56 victory over No. 5 LSU, effectively ending the Tigers’ perfect start to the season.
Joyce Edwards led the charge for South Carolina, contributing 14 points to the win. The Gamecocks’ signature lockdown defense was on full display, stifling LSU’s offensive efforts. Tigers coach Kim Mulkey expressed her awe, stating, “I don’t know that I’ve ever coached against a team that has 10 McDonald’s All-Americans on the roster. How do you even keep 10 on the roster?”
South Carolina’s impressive run continues as they have claimed four of the past five SEC tournament titles. This victory marked their 54th consecutive regular-season win in conference play, a testament to their sustained excellence.
Against LSU (20-1, 5-1), the Gamecocks showcased their depth, with eight players logging at least 15 minutes on the court. Sania Feagin, a two-time national champion, made her presence felt with 12 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, and two steals.
South Carolina has been on a roll, winning 13 straight games since their only loss in November to No. 1 UCLA. Seven of these victories have come against ranked opponents. Their home court has become a fortress, with 69 consecutive wins, tying with Tennessee (1991-96) for the longest streak in SEC history and the fourth longest in Division I history.
Bree Hall, a senior who joined the team in the same class as Feagin, shared that the team was motivated by social media chatter doubting their ability to stand up to the undefeated Tigers. “Stuff like that fuels us,” Hall said, highlighting the team’s determination to prove their critics wrong.
This victory marked the 17th consecutive win over LSU and the fifth in a row since Mulkey took over as the Tigers’ coach four seasons ago. The matchups between these two teams have been filled with drama, particularly last season’s SEC tournament final, where South Carolina emerged victorious with a 79-72 win.
That game was marred by an altercation in the final quarter when Flau’jae Johnson was knocked to the floor by South Carolina’s 6-foot-7 Kamilla Cardoso. Johnson’s brother, Trayron Milton, was arrested after jumping onto the court and charged with assault and battery and disorderly conduct. His trial is still pending, according to a spokeswoman at the Greenville Police Department.
In this latest encounter, there was no such bad blood, although Mulkey was met with loud boos when she took the court. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley emphasized the importance of this victory in their quest for a second consecutive national title and third in four seasons. Beating LSU gives the Gamecocks a crucial tiebreaker edge in the SEC and enhances their chances of securing a high seed in the NCAA tournament.
“It was necessary for us to win this game,” Staley stated, underlining the significance of the triumph.
South Carolina took control in the third quarter, holding LSU to 5-for-20 shooting and turning a close contest into a double-digit lead. LSU struggled offensively, shooting just 23-of-77 (29.9%) overall. It was the first time in 126 games under Mulkey that LSU shot below 30% from the field.
Raven Johnson, a fourth-year junior, noted that the team found their rhythm after losing Ashlyn Watkins for the year due to a knee injury in January. The loss to UCLA served as a wake-up call, prompting the team to elevate their game. “We knew we couldn’t come back the same as last year; we’ve got to bring something else to the table because teams are coming at us,” Johnson said. “I think that loss helped us.”
Aneesah Morrow stood out for the Tigers with 15 points and 16 rebounds, achieving her 93rd career double-double and breaking a tie with Oregon’s Jillian Alleyne for the second most in Division I history.
- South Carolina’s 54th straight regular-season SEC win
- 69 consecutive home wins, tying SEC record
- 17th consecutive victory over LSU
Information from ESPN Research and The Associated Press was used in this report.
Originally Written by: ESPN News Services
