KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Joyce Edwards led No. 2 South Carolina to their 15th consecutive win with an impressive performance, scoring 18 points in a 70-63 triumph over No. 18 Tennessee on Monday evening.
MiLaysia Fulwiley contributed 11 points, while teammates Te-Hina Paopao, Chloe Kitts, and Raven Johnson each added 10 for the Gamecocks, who now hold a record of 20-1 and are undefeated in Southeastern Conference play at 8-0.
On the opposing side, the Lady Vols, who now stand at 15-5 and 3-5 in conference play, welcomed back coach Kim Caldwell. She had missed the prior week’s match following the birth of her son. However, Tennessee faced their third consecutive loss, with Ruby Whitehorn leading the team with 12 points and Talaysia Cooper adding 11.
South Carolina gained momentum with a dominant 18-1 scoring run, allowing them to lead 35-26 at halftime.
Key Observations:
For South Carolina, the absence of Ashlyn Watkins due to a season-ending knee injury left a gap in their defense, specifically in the post. Nevertheless, Edwards has emerged as an imposing figure under the basket, effectively filling that role.
Tennessee will look to bounce back now that Caldwell is back on the sidelines. Their recent performance was marked by a challenging five losses out of seven games, including four against opponents ranked in the top 10. The Lady Vols are set to face two more tough competitors in their upcoming matches, including No. 6 UConn and No. 7 LSU.
Crucial Moment:
A pivotal moment occurred with 6:50 left in the second quarter when Talaysia Cooper scored, putting Tennessee ahead 20-17. However, following that basket, the Lady Vols endured a dry spell of over six minutes without scoring, during which South Carolina seized control of the game with their significant scoring run.
Notable Statistic:
During the second and third quarters combined, Tennessee struggled offensively, shooting only 8 for 34 (23.5%) from the field and an even more concerning 1 for 15 (6.7%) on three-point attempts.
Upcoming Matches:
South Carolina will be hosting Auburn this Sunday, while Tennessee will travel to Missouri on the same day.
