COLUMBIA, Mo. — MiLaysia Fulwiley led the way for South Carolina, scoring 17 points in a match that showcased the team’s strong performance, resulting in an 83-52 win over Missouri in their Southeastern Conference opener on Thursday night.
Te-Hina Paopao and Ashlyn Watkins contributed significantly as well, each adding 11 points, while Tessa Johnson chipped in with 10 points. This victory marked the Gamecocks’ (13-1, 1-0) fourth consecutive win over the Tigers (11-5, 0-1) and extended their winning streak to eight games following a defeat against UCLA on November 24.
Despite the Gamecocks’ past struggles at Mizzou Arena, they led 36-26 at halftime. The Tigers managed to keep it competitive, narrowing the gap to 48-37 after Ashton Judd drained a 3-pointer with approximately three and a half minutes left in the third quarter. However, a foul committed on Paopao ignited a critical turning point when she sank two free throws, forming the foundation for a 17-0 run that propelled the Gamecocks into the fourth quarter with a commanding lead.
Ashton Judd was the standout player for Missouri, finishing the game with 15 points, while teammate Grace Slaughter scored 13 points.
Observations from the game illustrate South Carolina’s depth, as they recorded an impressive 57 points from their bench players. In contrast, Missouri struggled offensively, hitting only 32% of their shots, going 18 of 57 from the field, which is typically not enough to overpower the Gamecocks.
One pivotal moment occurred as the Tigers were still within striking distance until Paopao’s two free throws late in the third quarter sparked an 11-0 scoring spree that ended the quarter, further extending to a 17-0 stretch, effectively sealing the game for South Carolina.
Notably, the Tigers managed a mere two points in fastbreak situations throughout the match, underscoring their difficulties on offense.
Looking ahead, South Carolina will finish their two-game road trip by facing Mississippi State on Sunday. Meanwhile, Missouri will continue their challenging start to conference play with a clash against No. 19 Alabama on the same day.
