TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — In a commanding performance, Joyce Edwards netted 21 points, leading the second-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks to a 76-58 victory against the 19th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide on Thursday night.
Notable contributions came from Chloe Kitts, who amassed 10 points along with 13 rebounds, while Milay Fulwiley added 16 points and Te-Hina Paopao contributed 11 points, enhancing the Gamecocks’ record to 17-1 overall and 5-0 in SEC play. This victory marks their sixth consecutive win over teams ranked in the top 25.
For Alabama, Zaay Green and Essence Cody each recorded 15 points, and Aaliyah Nye chipped in with 12 points as the Crimson Tide moved to a 16-3 overall record and 3-2 in the conference.
One significant aspect affecting Alabama was the absence of Sarah Ashlee Barker, their second-leading scorer, who has been sidelined since January 2 due to a lower leg injury. Despite this setback, Alabama attempted to keep pace but struggled against South Carolina’s dominant performance.
Even though South Carolina faced challenges with their shooting, hitting only 3 out of 20 attempts from beyond the arc, their strength came from inside the paint. They scored 38 points in the paint and capitalized on 19 second-chance points, proving their resilience.
The game’s momentum shifted dramatically in the opening minutes when South Carolina launched a 12-0 run within the first four minutes, while Alabama struggled to find their rhythm, missing their first eight attempts. As a result, Alabama never managed to narrow the gap to less than four points throughout the game.
A pivotal statistic from the match was the remarkable performance of South Carolina’s bench, which outscored Alabama’s reserves by a staggering 43 points to just 2. Furthermore, the Gamecocks dominated the rebounding category, securing 51 boards compared to Alabama’s 34, illustrating their overall control on both ends of the court.
Looking ahead, South Carolina is set to return home on Sunday to face No. 13 Oklahoma, while Alabama will hit the road to take on Arkansas in their next matchup.
