BATON ROUGE — In a game that came down to missed free throws and clutch buckets, No. 3 South Carolina survived a determined challenge from No. 6 LSU, escaping with a 79-72 victory behind Tessa Johnson’s 21 points and Madina Okot’s crucial double-double performance.
A Second Half of Sustained Pressure
South Carolina controlled the scoreboard for the entire second half, but LSU refused to go away quietly, mounting multiple threats to reclaim the lead. The most dramatic moment came with just 45.5 seconds remaining and the game hanging in the balance.
Joyce Edwards committed her fifth foul, sending LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson to the free-throw line with the Tigers trailing 73-72—a golden opportunity to take their first lead since halftime. Johnson stepped to the line with the game on the line.
She missed both attempts.
Okot secured the rebound, giving South Carolina possession with a chance to extend their razor-thin advantage.
Okot’s Dagger Seals the Win
Following a timeout, the Gamecocks spread the floor to create space for Raven Johnson to operate. She attacked the paint and delivered a perfectly timed pass to Okot, who gathered the ball and calmly knocked down a fadeaway jumper with 25.5 seconds left, pushing the lead back to three points.
LSU’s desperation three-pointer from Flau’jae Johnson missed badly, and the rebound caromed out of bounds off the Tigers. Forced to foul, LSU could only watch as South Carolina converted free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
Tessa Johnson’s Second-Quarter Eruption
The game’s complexion shifted dramatically in the second quarter after LSU had seized momentum with a 27-21 lead early in the period.
Enter Tessa Johnson.
The Gamecock guard caught fire, drilling back-to-back three-pointers that immediately erased LSU’s advantage. Johnson continued her hot streak, connecting on three total treys in the quarter while adding a reverse layup in the final minute to give South Carolina a 41-40 halftime lead—one the Gamecocks would never relinquish.
Third-Quarter Surge and Officiating Shift
South Carolina made its most decisive move coming out of the locker room, opening the third quarter with a 9-2 run that built an eight-point cushion midway through the frame.
However, the flow of the game underwent a notable transformation as the half progressed. After calling just eight fouls in the opening 20 minutes, the officiating crew suddenly began blowing the whistle with far greater frequency, disrupting both teams’ rhythm and keeping LSU within striking distance.
The Final Verdict
Despite LSU’s persistent comeback attempts and multiple opportunities to seize control, South Carolina’s composure in crunch time proved decisive. Johnson’s second-quarter barrage provided the foundation, while Okot’s late-game heroics—both on the glass and with the ball in her hands—secured a critical road victory in one of the SEC’s most challenging environments.
The win keeps South Carolina firmly in control of the conference race and validates their status as one of the nation’s elite programs, capable of winning tight games on hostile territory when circumstances demand it.
Source: on3
