GREENVILLE, S.C. — In a compelling face-off, Joyce Edwards propelled No. 5 South Carolina to the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game, securing a commanding 93-75 victory over 10th-ranked Oklahoma Saturday.
MiLaysia Fulwiley’s impressive performance off the bench with 19 points bolstered South Carolina’s (29-3) efforts, complemented by Sania Feagin, who added 14 points.
On Oklahoma’s side, Sahara Williams contributed 17 points, while Payton Verhulst delivered 15 points and nine assists during the challenging encounter. This was Oklahoma’s third match in as many days, leaving them visibly fatigued.
South Carolina’s dominant defense dictated the game’s rhythm straight away, leading to hurried shot attempts and five turnovers from Oklahoma, helping South Carolina amass a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter. The Gamecocks expanded their advantage, reaching a halftime score of 45-28 spurred by a 14-2 run, during which Oklahoma couldn’t score a single field goal in the closing four minutes of the first half.
Throughout the second half, South Carolina maintained a lead of at least 10 points, consistently controlling the game’s pace.
Observations from the match reveal that Oklahoma’s center, Raegan Beers, was held to seven points and eight rebounds, a stark contrast to the 42 points and 19 rebounds she bagged in her previous tournament outings.
South Carolina struggled from the three-point line, shooting only 2 for 15, with their first successful three-pointer coming merely two minutes into the fourth quarter. Nonetheless, they adeptly pivoted their strategy to dominate the interior game, outscoring the larger Oklahoma team 50-26 in the paint.
A pivotal moment unfolded when Oklahoma reduced the deficit to 10 points in the third quarter, prompting Edwards to respond decisively with five successive points, including a pivotal and-one play, allowing the Gamecocks to regain their composure and extend their lead.
The defensive pressure showed its worth as South Carolina translated 16 turnovers by Oklahoma into 22 points, while the Gamecocks themselves committed only eight turnovers.
Looking ahead, South Carolina aims for a third consecutive SEC title on Sunday, facing off against the winner between No. 1 Texas and No. 9 LSU. Oklahoma will now shift focus to await their NCAA Tournament seeding.
