Gamecocks Dominate Aggies in Final Preseason Showdown

Columbia, S.C. — No. 2 ranked South Carolina delivered a decisive 90-49 victory against Texas A&M on Thursday evening, marking an impressive final test before facing a challenging series of games ahead.

The Gamecocks, holding a solid record of 15-1 and 3-0 in Southeastern Conference play, were not without challenges as they played without junior forward Ashlyn Watkins due to a season-ending injury sustained in their previous matchup. Despite this setback, their defense proved overwhelmingly effective against the Aggies (8-7, 1-2), who struggled significantly, shooting only 20% from the field in the first half and finishing the game at 29%.

Freshman standout Joyce Edwards was instrumental in the victory, contributing 19 points and 10 rebounds, which marked her seventh double-double of the season. Sole Williams managed to score 10 points for Texas A&M, yet the Aggies were unable to find a way to counter South Carolina’s relentless defense.

South Carolina established an impressive lead, holding a 30-point advantage midway through the third quarter, allowing them to explore potential substitutes for Watkins. Maryam Dauda, for instance, had a rare opportunity to play nine minutes, showcasing her skills in what was some of her most extensive playing time thus far this season.

In terms of performance highlights, Aicha Coulibaly opened the scoring for Texas A&M with the first six points of the game but soon found herself pressured by the Gamecocks’ adaptive and aggressive defense. Consequently, the Aggies resorted to outside shooting, only hitting two 3-pointers throughout the remainder of the contest.

Looking ahead, South Carolina is gearing up for a formidable schedule, facing five consecutive opponents ranked within the nation’s top 18 teams starting Sunday. Notably, three of those games will be against teams currently sitting in the top 10, including Texas, LSU, and Oklahoma.

A pivotal moment of the game occurred when Edwards sank a layup in the first quarter, concluding a 15-2 scoring run for South Carolina after Texas A&M had equalized the score at 6 a few minutes into the game.

Although Coulibaly had an impressive start by scoring her first three shots, she could only land one out of her last five attempts, underscoring the tough defense the Gamecocks consistently applied throughout the match.

Upcoming games will see Texas A&M head to No. 10 Oklahoma on January 12, while South Carolina prepares to host No. 5 Texas on the same date.