The No. 2 South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team secured a 76-58 victory over the No. 19 Alabama Crimson Tide on Thursday night in Tuscaloosa. Freshman Joyce Edwards led the Gamecocks with a career-high 21 points, including 11 in the final quarter. Chloe Kitts contributed a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds, while MiLaysia Fulwiley added 16 points. Despite shooting just 3-for-20 from three-point range, South Carolina dominated in the paint, scoring 38 points and securing 19 second-chance points.
"Joyce is special," South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. "She works really hard at it, she doesn't take plays off ... she's a relentless worker, a tireless worker and she wants to be great at everything she does. To see her play as consistently and efficiently over the past couple of games is saying that she's found her footing. I think she understands what we lost and what she needs to do to close that gap."
The Gamecocks set the tone early with a 12-0 run in the first four minutes, during which Alabama missed its first eight shots. The Crimson Tide, playing without their second-leading scorer Sarah Ashlee Barker due to injury, couldn’t close the gap to less than four points throughout the game.
This victory marks South Carolina’s sixth consecutive win over a ranked opponent and maintains head coach Dawn Staley’s perfect 23-0 record against Alabama.
Key Performances:
• Joyce Edwards: The freshman forward came off the bench to score a career-high 21 points, with 11 of those in the fourth quarter.
• Chloe Kitts: Contributed a double-double, recording 10 points and 13 rebounds.
• MiLaysia Fulwiley: Added 16 points to the Gamecocks’ tally.
Team Statistics:
• Field Goal Percentage: South Carolina shot 44% from the field (27-of-61).
• Three-Point Shooting: The Gamecocks struggled from beyond the arc, making just 3-of-20 attempts (15%), marking their lowest three-point percentage of the season.
• Free Throws: They were efficient from the free-throw line, converting 13-of-14 attempts (93%).
• Rebounds: Dominated the boards with a 51-34 advantage over Alabama.
Game Highlights:
• South Carolina opened the game with a commanding 12-0 run, setting the tone early.
• Despite Alabama’s efforts to close the gap, the Gamecocks maintained control throughout, leading by as many as 18 points.
• The Gamecocks’ defense forced 15 turnovers, capitalizing with 15 points off those opportunities.
Alabama’s Performance:
• Zaay Green and Essence Cody: Both players led the Crimson Tide with 15 points each.
• Aaliyah Nye: Added 12 points to Alabama’s score.
• The Crimson Tide played without team captain Sarah Ashlee Barker, who missed her third consecutive game due to a lower leg injury.
Coach’s Perspective:
Alabama head coach Kristy Curry acknowledged South Carolina’s prowess, stating, “We just got beat by a very good South Carolina team tonight… I thought our kids competed and battled.”