South Carolina women’s basketball SEC regular season championship blowout over Missouri became a celebration long before the final horn echoed through Colonial Life Arena.
The scoreboard glared 112–71. Garnet and black towels whipped through the air. And somewhere between the third and fourth quarter, it stopped feeling like a game and started feeling like a coronation.
No. 3 didn’t just beat on Thursday night—they overwhelmed them, clinching the SEC regular-season title outright in front of a roaring home crowd in Columbia.
With the win, the Gamecocks improved to 28-2 overall and 14-1 in conference play, locking down the conference crown with one regular-season game still to go.
Senior Night Spark Turns Into a Statement
Before the opening tip, emotions ran high inside . Four seniors were honored. Cameras flashed. Families embraced. The crowd rose, loud and grateful.
Then the ball went up—and sentiment turned into domination.
Guards Raven Johnson and Ta’Niya Latson, along with forwards Maryam Dauda and Madina Okot, each left their imprint on the night.
- Raven Johnson: 16 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 4-of-6 from deep
- Ta’Niya Latson: 17 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists
- Madina Okot: 26 points, 17 rebounds (19th double-double of the season)
- Maryam Dauda: 8 points in 17 efficient minutes
Johnson, a five-year pillar of the program, drew the loudest ovation. Her voice has echoed through championship runs. Her fingerprints are all over one of the winningest eras in program history.
There’s also intrigue surrounding Okot’s future. According to reporting from The State, the staff plans to seek an additional year of eligibility for the star forward (read more via The State’s coverage here: https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-womens-basketball/article314837913.html).
For now, though, she played like someone determined to make every possession count.
Joyce Edwards Keeps Scoring. And Scoring.
Sophomore standout Joyce Edwards continues to make 20-point games feel routine.
She poured in 23 points Thursday—17 before halftime. The smooth release. The controlled footwork in traffic. The calm at the rim. It’s become predictable in the most dangerous way possible.
Edwards has now eclipsed 20 points in 18 games this season, including seven of her last eight outings. Before tipoff, she was honored for reaching the 1,000-career-point milestone—a number that feels less like an achievement and more like a checkpoint.
Opponents know she’s coming. They just haven’t found the answer.
Wire-to-Wire Control
This one was over early.
South Carolina exploded out of the gates, blitzing Missouri 33-13 in the first quarter. The Gamecocks shot 54.5% in that opening frame while holding the Tigers to 25%. Every defensive stop fed a transition run. Every rebound ignited the crowd.
By halftime, it was 57-32.
Missouri showed life in the third quarter, shooting a blistering 62.7% and outscoring South Carolina 31-28 in the period. But the damage had already been done. The Tigers were chasing shadows.
The Gamecocks responded with a ruthless fourth quarter—outscoring Missouri 27-8 and slamming the door shut.
Final margin: 41 points.
It marked the eighth time this season South Carolina has topped 100 points and their highest scoring output against a high-major opponent all year.
Inside the Numbers
A few key themes defined the night:
- Rebounding dominance: South Carolina controlled the glass.
- Points in the paint: Relentless interior scoring.
- Three-point contrast: Missouri found rhythm from deep, but it wasn’t nearly enough.
- Ball movement: Balanced scoring and efficient assists kept the offense humming.
The Gamecocks didn’t rely on one star—they came in waves.
Injury Watch
There was one notable absence.
Junior guard Tessa Johnson did not play due to an upper-body contusion, according to the team’s official X account (https://x.com/GamecockWBB/status/2027169864083767642?s=20). She had not appeared on the SEC injury report earlier in the week but was added before tipoff.
Agot Makeer stepped into the starting role, contributing four points and five rebounds in 21 minutes.
Sophomore forward Adhel Tac missed her fourth straight game with a lower-leg injury and was seen moving around on a scooter to keep weight off her left leg.
Head coach indicated Johnson has been practicing and working with trainers, a promising sign as postseason play approaches.
One More Stop Before March
The regular season isn’t quite over.
South Carolina will travel to face on Sunday before turning its focus to Greenville for the SEC Tournament.
Upcoming schedule:
- March 1: at Kentucky (2 p.m., SEC Network Plus)
- March 6: SEC Quarterfinals – Greenville, SC (ESPN)
- March 7: SEC Semifinals – Greenville, SC (ESPN2)*
- March 8: SEC Championship – Greenville, SC (ESPN)*
(*If advancing.)
The SEC Tournament will again take place in Greenville, South Carolina—long a stronghold for the Gamecocks faithful. For tournament details, visit the official SEC site: https://www.secsports.com.
Bigger Than One Night
This wasn’t just about 112 points.
It was about consistency. About a program that has turned dominance into expectation. About seniors walking across the floor one last time while the net looms above them—still within reach of something bigger.
The crowd thinned slowly after the final buzzer. Music blared. Kids leaned over railings hoping for high-fives. Players laughed near midcourt, the weight of a long season momentarily replaced by joy.
There’s one regular-season game left. Then March begins in earnest.
And if Thursday night was any indication, the South Carolina women’s basketball SEC regular season championship blowout over Missouri may be remembered as the moment the Gamecocks reminded everyone exactly who runs the conference.
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