South Carolina’s latest clash with Florida in women’s basketball delivered another test of resolve for the No. 3 Gamecocks, ending in a 74–63 road win that said as much about their grit as their talent. [1][2][3]
Game flow and turning points
Florida struck first and refused to back down, using a fast start and aggressive defense to rattle South Carolina early. [1][4] The Gators closed the opening quarter on a 7–0 run and even pushed ahead 25–22 in the second, forcing the Gamecocks to “meticulously” rebuild control of the game. [1][4]
South Carolina answered with a decisive 13–4 surge to close the half, leaning on free throws and rebounding to restore a 37–31 cushion at the break. [1][5] Even then, the contest stayed tight; the lead “vacillated between two and six points” in the third before a 9–0 South Carolina run finally created breathing room at 50–39. [1] Florida again punched back, trimming the margin to 53–48 early in the fourth and turning the SEC home opener into a genuine upset watch. [4][2]
Edwards, Johnson and closing time
For three quarters, South Carolina’s star forward Joyce Edwards looked human, held to just one field goal as Florida’s defense focused on her. [1][2] That changed in the final period, when she scored seven of her 11 points, repeatedly answering Gator pushes and finishing with a double-double that also included 10 rebounds. [6][2]
Raven Johnson provided the Gamecocks’ offensive stability all night, pouring in 17 points and stepping into a larger scoring role with second-leading scorer Ta’Niya Latson sidelined. [1][2] South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley’s faith in her guards showed as Johnson and Tessa Johnson combined on key perimeter shots, including a fourth-quarter three that helped extend the lead to 66–56 and effectively break Florida’s momentum. [4][2]
Florida’s fight and McGill’s spark
On the other side, Florida’s performance underscored a growing belief that the program can go toe-to-toe with the SEC’s elite. [1][4] Sophomore guard Liv McGill was central to that confidence, finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists while keeping the Gators within striking distance. [4] Staley called McGill “dynamic, spectacular, [and someone who] can carry a team,” a rare and telling compliment from an opposing coach after such a tense conference battle. [4]
Florida’s defense disrupted South Carolina into a season-high 21 turnovers and held the Gamecocks below 35% shooting from the field, a statistical profile that usually favors the underdog. [6][2] But the Gators’ inability to capitalize from deep—just 4-of-23 from three-point range—meant their effort never fully translated into a late-game lead. [4][5]
Rebounding edge and the bigger picture
Ultimately, the game was decided on the glass, where South Carolina imposed its will with a 59–36 rebounding advantage, including a punishing 26–12 edge in offensive boards. [1][5] Center Okot’s 17 rebounds, backed by Edwards’ 10, fueled a 20–9 cushion in second-chance points that repeatedly erased Florida’s defensive stops. [1][4]
The 74–63 result marked South Carolina’s 18th consecutive win over Florida and pushed the Gamecocks to a 15–1 record and 2–0 start in SEC play, even as they navigate Latson’s absence and turnover issues. [6][2][3] For Florida, the narrow loss to a top-three opponent reinforced a new identity: a team that “push[es] another top-25 opponent to the limit,” and leaves the court frustrated but emboldened by how close the gap has become. [1][4]
Citations:
[1] Gators Push Another Top-25 Opponent to the Limit, but No. … https://floridagators.com/news/2026/1/4/womens-basketball-gators-push-another-top-25-opponent-to-the-limit-but-no-3-gamecocks-edge-florida-74-63
[2] Raven Johnson, Edwards lead the way as No. 3 South Carolina … https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-florida-t25-score-342fc940eb5d596b154531221a92d9da
[3] South Carolina 74-63 Florida (Jan 4, 2026) Final Score – ESPN https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/401807542
[4] Florida falls short against No. 3 South Carolina despite … https://www.alligator.org/article/2026/01/florida-loses-to-sc-wbk-26
[5] South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Florida Gators Live Score and Stats https://www.cbssports.com/womens-college-basketball/gametracker/live/NCAAW_20260104_SC@FLA/
[6] No. 3 South Carolina holds off Florida for 18th straight win https://www.secsports.com/news/2026/01/no-3-south-carolina-holds-off-florida-for-18th-straight-win
[7] South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Florida Gators Live Score … https://www.cbssports.com/womens-college-basketball/gametracker/boxscore/NCAAW_20260104_SC@FLA/
[8] No. 3 South Carolina overpowers Florida Gulf Coast 105-43 https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/recap
[9] South Carolina vs Florida https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/stats/2025-26/south-carolina/boxscore/27459
[10] South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Florida Gators https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=louAgqk1D08
