COLUMBIA, S.C. — In a commanding performance, No. 3 South Carolina secured its 63rd consecutive home victory by defeating South Florida 78-62 on Sunday. Joyce Edwards led the Gamecocks with 15 points, while Ashlyn Watkins contributed significantly, scoring 10 points, grabbing eight rebounds, and blocking four shots.

The Gamecocks (10-1) initiated the game with an explosive 18-4 run, fueled by Bree Hall and Te-Hina Paopao, who each sunk two 3-pointers. The Bulls (5-6) struggled to recover from this early deficit, unable to mount a comeback. Edwards, a standout freshman at 6-foot-3, achieved her career-high during the match, contributing to a total of five South Carolina players reaching double figures in scoring. Sammie Puisis led South Florida with 19 points and four 3-pointers, while L’or Mputu added 11 points alongside a game-high ten rebounds.

Despite trailing 43-31 at halftime, South Florida fought back but could not close the gap. South Carolina asserted control with a 23-12 run at the beginning of the third quarter, marking a decisive moment in the game.

From South Florida’s perspective, the Bulls showed resilience against the Gamecocks, despite having previously lost to them in the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2023. They held their own for much of the game and excelled on the offensive boards, out-rebounding South Carolina 15-12 through three quarters.

On the other hand, while South Carolina managed to dominate the scoreboard, concerns linger about their sporadic defensive efforts and rebounding struggles, which could become more problematic as they enter Southeastern Conference play in the upcoming weeks.

A pivotal moment in the game occurred early on, when Hall and Paopao each connected on two 3-pointers, igniting their team’s initial scoring spree. A key statistic from the matchup revealed that South Carolina lost the battle of the boards against South Florida, who out-rebounded them 17-12 on the offensive end.

Looking ahead, South Florida will return home to face Northwestern State on Tuesday night, while South Carolina is set to host Charleston Southern with a noon tip-off scheduled for Thursday.