LAS VEGAS — In a thrilling matchup during the Hall of Fame Series, Chloe Kitts and Tessa Johnson helped propel the top-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks to a 68-62 victory over a resilient Michigan team on Monday night. Kitts notched an impressive 19 points along with 14 rebounds, while Johnson contributed 15 points for the Gamecocks, who are the reigning national champions.

Joyce Edwards further bolstered South Carolina’s efforts by adding 10 points to the tally. On the other hand, Michigan’s Syla Swords stood out with a remarkable performance, scoring 27 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, while teammate Jordan Hobbs chipped in with 19 points.

Despite South Carolina being the favorite by a hefty 21.5 points at BetMGM Sportsbook, they faced stiff competition in their season opener. Michigan was aiming to etch their name in history as the first team since Iowa in the 2023 national semifinals to hand the Gamecocks a loss.

As the game progressed, Michigan managed to narrow down South Carolina’s lead to just 64-62 with only 22 seconds remaining. However, the Gamecocks displayed their composure under pressure and secured the win by converting four of their six free throw attempts in the final moments.

South Carolina returns with a strong squad, keeping nine of their 11 starters from last season. However, they will miss the presence of 6-foot-7 Kamilla Cardoso, who was a standout scorer and rebounder before being selected third overall in the WNBA draft by the Chicago Sky.

Highlights from the matchup indicated that Michigan has recently shown prowess against top-tier teams, previously defeating No. 5 Baylor and No. 5 Indiana. Meanwhile, South Carolina demonstrated depth in their roster, effectively utilizing eight players and outscoring Michigan’s bench by a significant margin of 29-6.

A key stat to note was Michigan’s shooting struggles, particularly in the second half, where they only managed to shoot 21%. This became a crucial aspect as South Carolina held their ground and maintained their lead.

Looking ahead, South Carolina is set to face N.C. State on Sunday in Charlotte, North Carolina. In contrast, Michigan will begin a five-game homestand by going up against Lehigh on Friday.