South Carolina Secures SEC Title Behind Clutch Performances and Big Questions for Tournament Play
South Carolina locked up the SEC regular-season championship with back-to-back wins over Ole Miss and Kentucky. As the Gamecocks set their sights on the postseason, we break down the clutch performers, biggest questions, and a highlight-reel moment from the final stretch of the regular season.
Three Clutch Players
Chloe Kitts – The Double-Double Machine
- Vs. Ole Miss: 34 minutes, 16 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 steals
- Vs. Kentucky: 34 minutes, 12 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal
Kitts was on another level this week, delivering a historic triple-double against Ole Miss before following it up with a dominant double-double versus Kentucky. She set new career highs in minutes played, assists, and steals, proving to be a do-it-all force for the Gamecocks.
Sania Feagin – A Defensive Force
- Vs. Ole Miss: 27 minutes, 22 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocks
- Vs. Kentucky: 25 minutes, 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks
Against Ole Miss, Feagin was unstoppable, matching her career-high in the first half alone and finishing with 22 points on 10-13 shooting. On the defensive end, she was a rim-protecting nightmare, swatting away five shots to anchor South Carolina’s defense.
MiLaysia Fulwiley – Defensive Menace
- Vs. Ole Miss: 21 minutes, 9 points, 3 rebounds
- Vs. Kentucky: 23 minutes, 10 points, 3 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 blocks
Fulwiley’s impact against Kentucky went far beyond the box score. Her four steals—all in the fourth quarter—helped disrupt Georgia Amoore throughout the game. When Fulwiley locks in defensively, her scoring becomes an added bonus.
Two Burning Questions
1. Is It Tournament Tessa Time?
Last year, Tessa Johnson was one of South Carolina’s best players in the postseason. But for much of February, she didn’t look like the same player, averaging just 5.6 points per game.
That all changed against Kentucky. Johnson erupted for 16 points, nearly matching her total from the previous four games combined. She was 2-for-2 from three and 7-for-9 overall, while also grabbing four rebounds.
Could this be the momentum shift she needs for another big tournament run? Johnson didn’t get to cut down the net in Greenville last year, and there’s no doubt she wants to experience that moment this time around.
2. Does South Carolina Need to Win the SEC Tournament?
Probably not, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt.
A run to the title game would likely be enough to lock up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. But if the Gamecocks win the SEC Tournament—possibly over Texas—they could push for the first or second overall seed, depending on other results.
Beyond the numbers, winning the SEC Tournament in Greenville would give the Gamecocks an added boost of confidence heading into March Madness.
One Favorite Play – Fulwiley’s Block-to-Bucket Brilliance
With all due respect to Chloe Kitts’ triple-double, the most electrifying single play of the week belonged to MiLaysia Fulwiley.
In a ten-second sequence, Fulwiley delivered a highlight-reel moment, turning a spectacular block into a coast-to-coast layup—a move that only a handful of players in the country could pull off.
With the regular season title secured, South Carolina now turns its focus to the SEC Tournament—and they’re heading in with momentum and firepower.
