Tessa Johnson went absolutely OFF, dropping a career-high 28 points. Joyce Edwards added 20 points and 10 boards. Together, they propelled No. 1 South Carolina to an 89-85 nail-biter win over No. 3 USC Sunday in a game dubbed the battle for “The Real SC.” You just knew this one was going to be intense.
Gamecocks Flex, But Trojans Hang Tough
South Carolina was cooking from the jump, shooting a scorching 55% from the field. They held USC to a mere 42%, which is impressive against a team that had dropped over 100 points in each of its previous three games. Chloe Kitts was a beast on the boards, snagging 12 rebounds and adding 15 points for her third straight double-double. Talk about consistent!
Johnson wasn’t just clutch late, she started hot, too. She poured in 17 points in the first half alone, hitting 6-of-7 shots from the field, including a perfect 3-of-3 from deep. That kind of efficiency helped the Gamecocks battle back from an early 13-5 deficit, sparked by Kennedy Smith’s 8 points for USC. South Carolina used a crucial 9-0 run to grab a 49-45 halftime lead, and once they were ahead, they never looked back on the scoreboard.
This showdown went down at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, which is basically a second home for the Gamecocks. Their record there is now a ridiculous 23-3 all-time. They had a 19-game winning streak at that arena before dropping a game to Texas last season. They clearly feel comfortable there.
The Block That Saved It All
Even with South Carolina’s strong play, No. 3 USC refused to quit. JuJu Watkins was electric for the Trojans, shooting 8 of 12 from the field for 25 points. Saniyah Hall put up a solid 17 points and nine rebounds, and Kennedy Smith finished with 15 points. This team has fight, and they showed it big time when it mattered most.
With less than four minutes left, South Carolina was cruising with a 12-point lead. Then, BAM, a full-blown USC comeback started. Jazzy Davidson and Watkins drained back-to-back three-pointers, slicing the lead down to a terrifying two points with just 42 seconds remaining. After a South Carolina turnover, the tension was through the roof. Watkins, on a fastbreak drive, looked like she was going to tie it up or take the lead. But Jordan Lee had other plans, coming up with a HUGE block.
The ref initially called it out on Lee, giving the ball back to USC. But South Carolina coach Dawn Staley wasn’t having it. After USC called a timeout to set up their inbounds, Staley got a look at the replay and challenged the call. And guess what? It was overturned! Ball awarded to the Gamecocks with only 15 seconds left. That was the turning point, no doubt about it. USC had to foul Johnson, and she calmly sank both free throws with 13 seconds left, pushing it to a two-possession game and sealing the win. Even Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, a USC fan, was front row for that drama!
What a game, what a finish. South Carolina moves to 4-0, showing they can handle the heat when a top-tier team pushes back hard. USC, now 3-1, clearly has the firepower to scare anyone, even the undefeated number one team. Next up for USC, they’ll host Baylor on Friday night. South Carolina gets to celebrate this one a bit before their home opener against Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday. You know both teams will be ready to prove themselves all over again.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply