South Carolina’s Streak Shattered: UConn Stuns Gamecocks in Blowout Loss
In a stunning turn of events, South Carolina’s legendary 71-game home winning streak came crashing down Sunday as UConn dominated the Gamecocks with a resounding 87-58 victory at Colonial Life Arena.
The 29-point loss marked South Carolina’s worst defeat of the season—a brutal reminder of history repeating itself. The last time these two teams met in 2008, during Dawn Staley’s first season in Columbia, UConn handed the Gamecocks a nearly identical 77-48 defeat.
A Rocky Start Spells Trouble
The afternoon started with a celebratory two-hour College GameDay broadcast, hyping up the Gamecocks and their electrifying home atmosphere. But by the time the ball tipped off, it was UConn who stole the show.
Even before the game began, there were signs of trouble—Bree Hall arrived late to the arena, an omen of the disjointed performance to come.
UConn Takes Control Early
South Carolina briefly held an 11-9 lead after a Joyce Edwards layup, but it didn’t take long for Geno Auriemma’s squad to seize control. The Huskies erupted for a devastating 22-3 run spanning the first and second quarters, leaving the Gamecocks scrambling.
After a brief 7-0 South Carolina run, the home crowd came alive when MiLaysia Fulwiley converted a fast-break layup, seemingly shifting momentum. But Auriemma quickly called a timeout, settling his team and halting any potential comeback. UConn responded with another 14-2 run, sending the Gamecocks into halftime facing a 22-point deficit—their worst of the season, surpassing the 21-point hole they found themselves in against UCLA.
South Carolina’s Defensive Breakdown
Defensively, the Gamecocks struggled to adjust. UConn dictated the pace, pushing the tempo and finding open three-pointers early in the shot clock. Even when forced into half-court sets, the Huskies executed well enough to keep South Carolina on its heels. Staley’s team failed to contest the perimeter shots, allowing UConn to fire away with confidence.
Historic Streak Ends
The final buzzer not only cemented a humiliating defeat but also ended South Carolina’s 71-game home winning streak, the fourth-longest in NCAA history. The Gamecocks had not lost at home since December 3, 2020, when NC State handed them a 54-46 defeat.
Now, the focus shifts to how South Carolina responds. With the SEC and NCAA tournaments on the horizon, Staley’s squad must regroup and rediscover the dominance that made them one of the nation’s most feared teams. One thing is for certain—the Gamecocks won’t forget this loss anytime soon.
