Ta’Niya Latson and Joyce Edwards both cracked the 20-point mark as a depleted South Carolina squad overpowered NC Central 106-42.
If there was ever a perfect example of an early-December Sunday guarantee game, this matchup was it.
For the second straight contest, key reserve Agot Makeer remained sidelined in concussion protocol. Then came another blow on Sunday morning: starting guard Tessa Johnson — averaging 13.1 points and shooting 48.8% from deep — was ruled out with an illness. That left Dawn Staley with just eight players available.
Things tightened even further when Madina Okot became ill late in the first half. She did not return after halftime, reducing the rotation to only seven players.
“It’s going around,” Dawn Staley said with a shrug.
South Carolina also held its breath when Raven Johnson collided with a courtside seat while chasing a loose ball, falling hard and grabbing her knee. After a brief scare, she stood back up and stayed in the game.
Fortunately for the Gamecocks, NC Central didn’t have the firepower to capitalize on South Carolina’s limited bench.
The Eagles opened strong, taking a 7-4 lead midway through the first quarter. But once the Gamecocks ramped up their defensive pressure and turned steals into easy buckets, the game shifted dramatically. Edwards poured in eight points as South Carolina closed the quarter on a 22-7 run.
In the second period, Okot made a quick impact, contributing six points and five rebounds before being shut down for the day. Her streak of double-doubles ended, though she still managed 10 points and nine boards in only 11 minutes.
At halftime, South Carolina held a comfortable 46-25 advantage, despite an uneven performance. The third quarter, however, was a completely different story.
“We’ve got our own little islands. We’ve got to be able to play together,” Staley said. “Everybody started to just play for each other rather than self. I don’t think we have a selfish group. They’re just wired differently in that they like to call their own number.”
The Gamecocks opened the third quarter with a dominant 26-0 surge and outscored NC Central 28-2 in the frame. The Eagles were held to just 1-for-16 shooting with nine turnovers.
“It was the game plan to get in the gaps and get steals,” Latson said.
With a nearly nonexistent bench, South Carolina maintained its intensity in the fourth quarter, piling on 32 points while shooting 9-for-15 from the floor and knocking down four of five threes.
Latson delivered her best performance as a Gamecock, dropping a career-high 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting, including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc, and adding four rebounds.
Edwards posted her second double-double of the year with 25 points and 10 rebounds, tying her career high with six assists and three blocks. She did, however, finish with seven turnovers.
Freshman Ayla McDowell logged a personal-best 27 minutes and turned in a breakout performance with a career-high 16 points, knocking down five of her seven three-point attempts.
“It felt good,” McDowell said. “I’ve been working on my three-ball a lot, and I’m just trying to work on being ready when my time comes.”
Adhel Tac earned her first career start in Johnson’s place, contributing two points and three rebounds in 22 minutes.
Maddy McDaniel posted season bests with eight points — all from the foul line — along with three assists and two steals in 24 minutes. Maryam Dauda added six points, seven rebounds, and three blocks in 18 minutes.
NC Central was led by Tierney Coleman, who scored 14.
Notes:
- Agot Makeer and Tessa Johnson were not present on the bench.
- NC Central turned the ball over 36 times. South Carolina’s program record book only lists the top five in the category, with the fifth-most being 38.
- The Gamecocks scored 42 points off turnovers.
- South Carolina shot 51% overall and made a season-best 11 of 21 from three.
- The team also hit 27 of 34 free throws.
- NC Central shot 30%.
- Dawn Staley’s outfit: a black Givenchy hoodie.
- Attendance was announced at 15,677.
- South Carolina is off for exam week and will return on Sunday, Dec. 14, hosting Penn State.
