NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The South Carolina women’s basketball team, ranked sixth, secured their second consecutive victory with an impressive 82-54 win over Vanderbilt on Sunday. MiLaysia Fulwiley led the charge with 24 points, contributing significantly to the Gamecocks’ stellar performance.
With this triumph, South Carolina improved its record to 25-3 overall and 13-1 in the Southeastern Conference, while also extending their historical advantage to 23-21 against Vanderbilt. This victory marked the Gamecocks’ 17th straight over the Commodores, with the last Vanderbilt win occurring on January 27, 2011. Joyce Edwards played a pivotal role alongside Fulwiley, finishing with 17 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, while Te-Hina Paopao added 13 points to the scoreline.
On the other hand, Vanderbilt, now 19-9 overall and 6-8 in conference play, faced their second consecutive defeat. This loss came shortly after Mikayla Blakes made headlines for setting the NCAA freshman single-game scoring record with an astounding 55 points against Auburn. Blakes managed to score 19 points in Sunday’s game, while teammate Khamil Pierre achieved a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Gamecocks took control of the game from the start, with Paopao quickly scoring the first seven points, leading to an early 24-11 advantage after the first quarter. Although Vanderbilt managed to narrow the gap by outscoring South Carolina 14-11 in the second quarter, they still faced a 35-25 deficit at halftime. South Carolina then extended their lead even further by outscoring the Commodores 21-12 in the third quarter, resulting in a commanding 56-37 advantage heading into the final stanza.
One significant takeaway for South Carolina is their pursuit of a potential SEC regular-season title, as they hope for a slip-up from Texas in the final week of play. For Vanderbilt, this defeat marked a downturn in their home record, dropping to 12-4 at Memorial Gym under coach Shea Ralph. They will have one last opportunity to secure a home victory, aiming for their highest win total since the 2011-12 season.
A crucial moment occurred early in the third quarter when Vanderbilt narrowed the deficit to 35-29, but Edwards responded with a flurry of 11 points, pushing South Carolina’s lead to its largest of the game at 47-30 with just under four minutes left in the quarter. A key statistic from the game highlights South Carolina’s dominance, as they held a significant 23-3 advantage in points scored off turnovers.
Looking ahead, South Carolina will complete their two-game road trip on Thursday evening against Ole Miss, while Vanderbilt prepares to host Texas A&M in their final home game of the season.
