South Carolina left Tuscaloosa with a commanding 76-57 victory over No. 25 Alabama, fueled by dominant performances from sophomore forward Joyce Edwards and center Madina Okot, both of whom recorded double-doubles on the night.
Fast Start Sets The Tone
The Gamecocks wasted no time establishing control. By the first media timeout of the game, South Carolina had raced out to a 15-5 lead, shooting an efficient 7-of-13 from the field while holding Alabama to just 2-of-13. That early stranglehold extended into a 21-8 advantage at the end of the first quarter — the lowest scoring opening period Alabama had endured all season.
Alabama Fights Back Through The Three-Point Line
Despite the commanding early lead, head coach Dawn Staley had entered the game with concerns about her team’s defensive consistency — and the middle quarters proved those concerns valid. In the second and third quarters, Alabama found a rhythm from beyond the arc, connecting on 9-of-18 three-point attempts to gradually chip away at South Carolina’s cushion.
The Gamecocks struggled to respond in kind, shooting just 4-of-18 from three on the night, including a quiet 1-of-8 outing from guard Tessa Johnson. Alabama ultimately finished the game 10-of-30 from three. South Carolina’s offense was effectively trading twos for threes — a dynamic that allowed the Crimson Tide to trim the deficit to just seven points heading into the final quarter.
The Frontcourt Takes Over
With the game hanging in the balance, South Carolina’s frontcourt delivered when it mattered most. Joyce Edwards opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back layups to steady the Gamecocks, before Maddy McDaniel found Madina Okot on the perimeter for a step-back three that proved to be the turning point.
Okot’s triple ignited a game-ending 15-5 run that put the contest firmly out of reach. South Carolina outscored Alabama 19-7 in the fourth quarter alone, holding the Crimson Tide to 2-of-12 shooting from the field and a scoreless 0-of-8 from three-point range. The defensive clampdown in the final period was the defining statement of the win.
The victory adds another impressive road result to South Carolina’s resume as the Gamecocks close out the regular season, with their frontcourt duo proving they can take over games when the moment demands it.
