No. 2 South Carolina drops No. 5 Texas 6750 in SEC women's basketball showdown
Jan 12, 2025
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A top-five clash ended in favor of No. 2 South Carolina 67-50 over No. 5 Texas on Sunday in Southeastern Conference women's basketball action at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
The Gamecocks held the Longhorns to 28% shooting, 22-for-79, with Texas scoring on just 35% of its possessions. The Longhorns were 12-for-36 on layups.
Texas forward Kyla Oldacre, center, pulls down an offensive rebound against South Carolina forward Sania Feagin (20) and guard MiLaysia Fulwiley (12) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)Texas head coach Vic Schaefer argues a call during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)Texas forward Aaliyah Moore, left, battles South Carolina guard Te-Hina Paopao (0) for the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)Texas guard Bryanna Preston (1) drives against South Carolina guard Raven Johnson during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)Texas guard Rori Harmon, center, battles South Carolina guards Raven Johnson, left, and MiLaysia Fulwiley for the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)Texas forward Kyla Oldacre (00) battles South Carolina forward Sania Feagin for a rebound during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)Texas guard Rori Harmon, right, drives into South Carolina guard Raven Johnson during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) drives against South Carolina guard Raven Johnson (25) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)Texas forward Kyla Oldacre, right, looks to pass against South Carolina forward Sania Feagin during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)South Carolina assistant coach Lisa Boyer, center, steps between South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and an official as Staley disputes a call during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)Texas head coach Vic Schaefer yells at an official during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley argues with an official during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley, right, drives to the basket against Texas forward Madison Booker during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards (8) drives to the basket against Texas forwards Taylor Jones (44) and Justice Carlton (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)South Carolina guard Bree Hall (23) drives to the basket against Texas forward Madison Booker (35) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)Texas forward Madison Booker (35) drives past South Carolina guard Bree Hall during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)Texas forward Aaliyah Moore looks to shoot against South Carolina forward Chloe Kitts (21) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)South Carolina guard Te-Hina Paopao (0) shoots over Texas forward Aaliyah Moore (23) as guard Shay Holle, center, looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)South Carolina guard Bree Hall (23) drives against Texas forward Madison Booker during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
"I didn't have my team ready to play," Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer said. "We had talked about trying not to get popped first, but we got hit first, second and third. I've played against [South Carolina] enough and their teams are always tough. Their competitive spirit oozes in the arena."
Kyla Oldacre was the only Longhorn to score in double figures, posting 11 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in 20 minutes. Oldacre picked up two fouls in the first quarter and didn't return until halfway through the third quarter. Texas had 20 offensive rebounds with Oldacre hauling in 12, yet the Gamecocks outrebounded the Longhorns 42-40 overall. Texas forced 22 turnovers to score 16 points.
Madison Booker, the leading scorer for Texas this season, had a rough game. She shot 3-for-19 from the field to score seven points in 34 minutes. She chipped in seven rebounds. Rori Harmon had nine points on 4 of 11 shooting while Justice Carlson scored eight points off the bench. The Gamecocks blocked nine shots, six by Sania Feagin.
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Texas trailed 18-9 after the first quarter and 39-22 at halftime.
"We were very uncomfortable early and then it went south in a hurry," Schaefer said. "We did a lot of uncharacteristic things, but that's what a team like that will do to you. That's what we normally do to people but it's hard to do that against a team that's so tough mentally and physically."
South Carolina shot 51% and outscored Texas 16-3 in fastbreak points. Te-Hina Paopao and Chole Kitts each had 11 points while Joyce Edwards had 10 off the bench. Raven Johnson scored eight points with 10 rebounds. It was the 11th consecutive win for the Gamecocks.
Texas (16-2, 3-1 SEC) is on the road Thursday at Auburn. South Carolina (16-1, 4-0) is on the road Thursday at Alabama in Tuscaloosa.