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No. 2 South Carolina hands No. 5 LSU its first loss of the season, 66–56

The Gamecocks extended their home winning streak to 69 games

ian casselberry
Contributing writer
·2-min read

No. 2 South Carolina extended its home winning streak to 69 games and handed No. 5 LSU its first loss of the season with a 66–56 victory in Columbia on Friday.

The game was postponed from Wednesday due to Winter Storm Enzo preventing the Tigers from flying out of Baton Rouge.

Joyce Edwards scored 14 points with Sania Feagin adding 12 to lead a Gamecocks effort that spread the scoring around. Tessa Johnson contributed nine points off the bench, followed by eight from MiLaysia Fulwiley and seven by Chloe Kitts.

With the win, South Carolina improves to 19-1, with a 7-0 mark in the SEC.

After a furious opening 10 minutes in which both teams were up and down the floor, with LSU taking a 22–21 lead, the second quarter was rough with few shots falling.

LSU missed its final 13 shots of the quarter and scored only eight points, its lowest output for a quarter this season. Yet the Tigers trailed only 33-30, helped by a 29-18 rebounding edge in the first half, including 15 offensive boards.

South Carolina picked up the pace in the third, creating separation with an 8–0 run midway through the quarter led by Raven Johnson's four points. Despite LSU's overall rebounding edge, the Gamecocks grabbed key offensive rebounds that led to points. Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey showed her frustration, looking for someone besides Aneesah Morrow to hit the boards.

The quarter ended with South Carolina extending its lead to 51–41. Between the third and fourth quarters, LSU went nine minutes without a field goal from the floor. Overall, the Tigers shot 28% (18 of 65) from the floor. The Gamecocks' defense was ferocious, compiling 13 steals and 11 blocks.

Morrow led LSU with 15 points and 16 rebounds, followed by 13 from both Flau'Jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams. The Tigers dropped to 20-1 on the season, taking its first regular-season loss in 28 games going back to last season.

"I do think they're the best in the country," Mulkey told reporters afterward. "I don't know if I've ever coached against a team that has 10 McDonald's All-Americans on a roster ... and how do you keep 10 McDonald's All-Americans on a roster?"

South Carolina next travels to Knoxville for another SEC showdown versus No. 17 Tennessee (15-4) on Monday at 7 p.m. ET. LSU hosts Texas A&M (10-8) on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET.