South Carolina dismantled No. 25 Alabama 76-57 in Tuscaloosa, with Joyce Edwards and Madina Okot each recording double-doubles and the Gamecocks’ frontcourt sealing the game with a dominant fourth-quarter surge.
A Dominant Opening Quarter
South Carolina set the tone immediately. By the first media timeout, the Gamecocks held a 15-5 lead, shooting 7-of-13 from the field while Alabama managed just 2-of-13. The first quarter ended 21-8 in South Carolina’s favor — the fewest points Alabama had scored in an opening period all season.
Alabama’s Three-Point Barrage Tightens The Game
Head coach Dawn Staley had flagged defensive concerns heading into the contest, and the middle quarters validated that worry. Alabama caught fire from beyond the arc in the second and third quarters, connecting on 9-of-18 three-pointers to steadily claw back into the game. South Carolina, meanwhile, struggled from distance, shooting just 4-of-18 from three on the night. Guard Tessa Johnson was particularly cold, going 1-of-8 from long range. Alabama ultimately finished 10-of-30 from three for the game — a volume that kept the scoreboard tight despite the Gamecocks’ early dominance.
By the start of the fourth quarter, Alabama had trimmed the deficit to just seven points.
The Frontcourt Shuts The Door
With the game in the balance, South Carolina’s frontcourt delivered. Joyce Edwards opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back layups to restore breathing room, before Maddy McDaniel located Madina Okot in the corner for a step-back three that proved to be the knockout blow.
Okot’s triple ignited a closing 15-5 run that put the result beyond doubt. South Carolina outscored Alabama 19-7 in the final quarter, holding the Crimson Tide to 2-of-12 shooting and a scoreless 0-of-8 from three. The fourth-quarter defensive effort was as complete as it gets.
Individual Performances
Joyce Edwards was outstanding, finishing with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and three steals. She was particularly lethal in the second half, putting up 17 of her 23 points after the break.
Madina Okot was equally impressive, ending the night with 16 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks. She had already secured her double-double by halftime, effectively controlling the first two quarters before Edwards took over in the second.
Ta’Niya Latson: shot 5-of-11 from the field and missed all her three-point attempts, but still contributed 10 points, four steals, and three assists, remaining active and impactful on both ends of the floor.
Raven Johnson: was battling illness and was limited to just 19 minutes of action. Despite that, she contributed four assists and delivered a key steal and layup in the fourth quarter when it mattered most.
With Johnson’s minutes restricted, Maddy McDaniel: stepped up in a significant way. Returning from a two-game absence, McDaniel matched her career-high with 10 points, added four assists, and shot an efficient 7-of-8 from the free-throw line.
Alabama’s Struggles Beyond The Arc
When Alabama wasn’t connecting from three, very little went right for the Crimson Tide. They shot just 11-of-24 from inside the arc and coughed the ball up 20 times, allowing South Carolina to score 23 points off turnovers. Ta’Mia Scott was the only Alabama player to reach double figures, finishing with 14 points.
Notes and Extras
South Carolina debuted new all-black uniforms for the occasion, featuring white numbers, a sublimated Block C on the front, and three stars across the back of the neck representing the program’s three national championships.
With the victory, Dawn Staley has now never lost to Alabama, extending South Carolina’s winning streak in the series to 25 consecutive games. Staley completed the night in a black Margiela 6 hoodie.
Adhel Tac did not play. Off the bench, Alicia Tournebize contributed six points and three rebounds, while freshman Agot Makeer added four points, two assists, a block, and a steal. South Carolina finished plus-eight on the glass but went just 10-of-16 from the free-throw line. Announced attendance at Coleman Coliseum was 3,703.
The Gamecocks return to action Sunday against Ole Miss.
