South Carolina Dominates Texas to Secure Third Consecutive SEC Title
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Dawn Staley knew this year’s SEC Championship would be a tougher battle with Texas and Oklahoma joining the league. But South Carolina made it look effortless.
Led by Tournament MVP Chloe Kitts, who tallied 15 points and nine rebounds, the fifth-ranked Gamecocks dismantled No. 1 and second-seeded Texas 64-45 on Sunday. Tessa Johnson contributed 14 points, as South Carolina capped off a commanding three-day run in Greenville to claim its third straight SEC Tournament title and ninth championship in 11 years under Staley.
“They are young people that come down here and perform to a high standard every single time they step on the floor, and for that, I am super proud of them,” Staley said.
Dominance from Start to Finish
Sania Feagin and Joyce Edwards each added 11 points, reinforcing South Carolina’s case for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Gamecocks won their three tournament games by margins of 21, 18, and 19 points, including emphatic victories over newcomers Oklahoma and Texas.
South Carolina (30-3) never trailed, taking control with a 19-2 surge to open the second quarter. The defensive intensity suffocated Texas, holding them to 16 first-half points. The Gamecocks extended their lead to 21 early in the fourth quarter, putting the game out of reach.
Texas Coach Vic Schaefer admitted his team had no answer. “I took two timeouts in the second quarter, and we just could not stop (their momentum),” he said.
South Carolina’s Depth and Defense Shine
Staley’s dominance over Schaefer continued, improving to 5-0 against him in SEC title games, dating back to his time at Mississippi State.
Kitts, who averaged 16.6 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting an astounding 74% from the floor, led the charge, but South Carolina’s depth proved crucial. Staley rotated talent seamlessly, ensuring relentless pressure on both ends.
The defense was the difference-maker. All-American Madison Booker was limited to 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting, as the Gamecocks snapped Texas’ 15-game win streak while forcing 18 turnovers. Taylor Jones and Rori Harmon led the Longhorns (31-3) with 14 points each.
Texas Looks Ahead to NCAA Tournament
Despite the loss, Harmon remained focused on the bigger picture. “We have another big tournament ahead of us, and we have to learn from our mistakes … but this game will haunt us as a team.”
Schaefer, still confident in his squad, emphasized that the loss wouldn’t define their season. “One quarter, one game certainly doesn’t define our season,” he said, still expecting Texas to land a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
For South Carolina, however, this dominant performance only reinforced their standing as one of the nation’s elite teams, setting the stage for another deep postseason run.
