South Carolina Rebounds with Dominant 103-74 Victory Over Vanderbilt
South Carolina delivered a commanding response to its first SEC loss this season, overwhelming previously undefeated Vanderbilt 103-74 in a statement performance, according to On3.
The Gamecocks entered the matchup smarting from a 94-82 defeat at Oklahoma on Thursday—only their second conference loss in four seasons. For Vanderbilt, that timing proved disastrous.
Despite an ice storm that swept through the Southeast and reduced attendance to roughly half capacity, South Carolina came out aggressive from the opening tip.
Strategic Lineup Shift Sparks Fast Start
Head coach Dawn Staley made her first non-injury-related lineup change of the season, inserting Agot Makeer into the starting five in place of Madina Okot. The tactical adjustment paid immediate dividends.
The Gamecocks exploded out of the gate with an 11-2 run in the first 98 seconds, capitalizing on three early turnovers to score seven points. Makeer was instrumental during that stretch, recording two steals, a basket, and an assist.
Record-Setting First Quarter
South Carolina’s offensive onslaught continued throughout the opening period. The Gamecocks poured in 33 first-quarter points—their highest-scoring SEC quarter this season and tied for their best in any quarter. For Vanderbilt’s defense, it represented the most points they’d surrendered in any quarter this year.
The offensive fireworks continued into the second period as South Carolina built a 55-44 halftime advantage. While those 55 points marked their most productive SEC half of the season, the 44 points allowed also represented their highest defensive total surrendered.
Commodores Mount Brief Challenge
Vanderbilt showed signs of life heading into intermission, closing the half on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to 11 points. The Commodores carried that momentum into the third quarter, scoring the first four points to trim South Carolina’s lead to just seven.
Defensive Clampdown Seals Victory
That’s when the Gamecocks reasserted their dominance. South Carolina’s defense locked down, sparking a decisive 15-2 run that restored their 20-point cushion and effectively ended Vanderbilt’s comeback hopes.
Analysis
This performance highlighted South Carolina’s championship pedigree and ability to respond under pressure. Staley’s willingness to adjust her lineup demonstrated tactical flexibility, while her team’s defensive response after Vanderbilt’s third-quarter surge showed mental toughness.
The 103 points scored represents South Carolina’s offensive ceiling, while the defensive lapses—particularly the 44 first-half points allowed—provide areas for improvement. However, the Gamecocks’ 15-2 run when challenged proved they can elevate defensively when necessary.
For Vanderbilt, their undefeated season ended against a motivated opponent on a mission to prove Thursday’s loss was merely a blip. The defeat exposed defensive vulnerabilities that SEC opponents will likely target moving forward.
Source: On3
