When the stakes are highest and the environment most hostile, championship teams lean on their most dependable players. For No. 3 South Carolina, that meant turning to their Johnson & Johnson combination—and in Saturday night’s pressure-packed 79-72 victory over No. 6 LSU, the duo delivered exactly what head coach Dawn Staley needed.
Iron Woman Performance Under Duress
With backup point guard Maddy McDaniel sidelined due to injury, Raven Johnson and Tessa Johnson shouldered an enormous burden in Baton Rouge, playing nearly the entire game while navigating one of the SEC’s most intimidating atmospheres. The Pete Maravich Assembly Center was rocking, ESPN’s College GameDay had descended on campus, and LSU desperately wanted to end their 18-game losing streak to the Gamecocks.
In that cauldron of noise and pressure, South Carolina’s Johnsons (no relation) rose to the occasion.
Tessa Johnson: The Flamethrower
Tessa Johnson set the tone early and never let up, finishing with a game-high 21 points that kept South Carolina afloat when LSU threatened to seize control. Her second-quarter eruption proved particularly crucial.
After LSU surged to a 27-21 lead early in the second period, threatening to blow the game open in front of their raucous home crowd, Johnson caught fire. She drained back-to-back three-pointers that instantly erased the deficit and silenced the arena. By the time the halftime buzzer sounded, Johnson had connected on three triples in the quarter and added a reverse layup in the final minute, giving South Carolina a 41-40 lead they would never relinquish.
Dawn Staley didn’t mince words about Johnson’s importance in her postgame comments.
“She was our offense, to be quite honest. We did a really good job with force-feeding her the ball because she was hot. Tessa did a great job getting herself open and square to the basket. It’s not on her fingers long before she’s launching it, and I’m very fortunate that she was very efficient. We needed it to stay close, especially with the type of crowd that they had, because every miss, you heard it. Every transition basket they got, it really, really matters,” Staley explained.
Johnson’s quick release and fearless mentality allowed her to operate effectively despite heavy defensive attention. When the Gamecocks needed a bucket to stem LSU momentum or answer a Tiger run, Johnson consistently delivered.
Raven Johnson: The Steady Hand
While Tessa provided the scoring punch, fifth-year point guard Raven Johnson orchestrated the offense and provided the veteran leadership essential in a hostile road environment. Playing 36 exhausting minutes, Johnson managed the game with poise, made critical defensive stops, and delivered perhaps the game’s most important assist.
With South Carolina clinging to a 73-72 lead and just 25.5 seconds remaining, Johnson took command. Following a timeout, the Gamecocks spread the floor to give their point guard space to operate. Johnson drove into the paint, drew the defense, and fired a perfectly timed pass to Madina Okot, who converted a fadeaway jumper that effectively sealed the victory.
Staley’s trust in Johnson in that critical moment spoke volumes.
“We put the ball in Raven Johnson’s hands to make a play. We put it in a couple of people’s hands, and we got good looks. When it was down to that last possession, Raven was going to play make for herself or for her teammates. Fortunately, Madina (Okot) snuck behind the defense to give her a little layup,” Staley recounted.
Johnson’s defensive assignment against experienced guards like LSU’s scoring threats also proved vital. Even LSU coach Kim Mulkey acknowledged Johnson’s impact, noting that “Raven is an experienced national championship guard who played 36 minutes” when discussing the challenges her players faced.
The Physical Toll
The extended minutes took their toll on both Johnsons, a reality Staley acknowledged candidly after the game.
“They had to (play a lot of minutes), when you’re down in volume without Maddy McDaniel, you’ve got to. Obviously, a lot more than we wanted them to play, and we did try to get them a little break before timeouts. But they’re built for it,” Staley said.
She added a realistic assessment of the fatigue factor: “I think if they could have gotten a couple of other blows throughout the second half, they might have had enough energy to make some more slow plays down the stretch, but they were exhausted. They got us over the mountain top.”
Both players visibly labored in the final minutes, but their conditioning and mental toughness allowed them to execute when it mattered most. Championship programs are built on players who can perform when tired, under pressure, and in hostile environments—exactly what the Johnson & Johnson duo demonstrated.
Complementary Contributions
While the Johnsons carried the heaviest load, they received timely support from role players. Madina Okot’s double-double and clutch late-game bucket proved decisive. Freshmen Agot Makeer, Ayla McDowell, and Maryam Dauda provided crucial energy off the bench despite limited minutes.
But make no mistake—this victory belonged primarily to South Carolina’s Johnson & Johnson combination, two players with no family connection but perfect basketball chemistry when their team needed them most.
The Bigger Picture
The performance extended South Carolina’s winning streak over LSU to 18 games and demonstrated the Gamecocks’ ability to grind out victories on the road against elite competition. More importantly, it showcased the kind of individual excellence and collective toughness required for championship runs.
As South Carolina (25-2, 11-1 SEC) continues its pursuit of another national title, the Johnson & Johnson show provides a reliable formula: Tessa providing explosive scoring, Raven delivering steady leadership and playmaking, both playing heavy minutes and thriving under pressure.
If that combination continues performing at this level, the Gamecocks will be exceptionally difficult to beat when March arrives and the margin for error disappears entirely.
For one night in Baton Rouge, with the national spotlight shining bright and a hostile crowd roaring, the Johnsons proved they’re built for these moments—exactly what championship teams require from their best players.
