During the first half, it looked as if No. 2 South Carolina and Southern California were headed for a wire-to-wire battle. But the Gamecocks took care of the Trojans 69-52 on Saturday night.
The Gamecocks clung to a 32-30 halftime lead Saturday behind second-chance points and relentless work on the glass. Madina Okot grabbed 10 early rebounds and Joyce Edwards provided energy on both ends, though missed free throws kept the Trojans within reach.
USC’s Malia Samuels beat the shot clock with a jumper before the break, while Londynn Jones created chances but struggled to finish, leaving the Trojans in too many one-and-done possessions.
The game shifted quickly out of halftime. South Carolina imposed its size, depth and defensive pressure, turning missed shots into transition opportunities and mismatches. Edwards powered through the paint on her way to 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Ta’Niya Latson added timely pull-ups and drives as the Gamecocks built a 55-47 lead with a 13-4 run in the third.
From there, USC never found its footing. Raven Johnson knocked down key mid-range shots, Edwards fed Latson for a layup, and South Carolina pushed the margin to 67-51 early in the fourth quarter, forcing a Trojans timeout that changed little.
Jazzy Davidson finished with eight points on 4-of-11 shooting with three rebounds and four turnovers. Kennedy Smith led USC with 12 points, four assists and three blocks. Tessa Johnson added 14 points, four rebounds and five assists for South Carolina.
The Gamecocks outscored USC 38-21 in the second half, turning a grinding, foul-heavy opening stretch into a decisive victory and another reminder of why they remain built for March.