Columbia, S.C. — Tessa Johnson led the charge with 16 points as No. 6 South Carolina clinched a share of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) regular-season championship, defeating No. 15 Kentucky 78-66 on Sunday.
The Gamecocks (27-3, 15-1 SEC) finished conference play tied with No. 1 Texas, which dominated Florida 72-46 on the same day. Despite splitting their regular-season matchups, South Carolina secured the No. 1 seed for the upcoming SEC Tournament in Greenville through a coin flip.
Te-Hina Paopao contributed 13 points, while Chloe Kitts posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, helping South Carolina extend its streak of at least sharing the SEC regular-season title to four consecutive years.
Kentucky (22-6, 11-5 SEC) was led by Clara Strack’s 23 points and Georgia Amoore’s 16. However, the Wildcats couldn’t sustain the momentum from their commanding 82-58 victory over No. 11 Tennessee earlier in the week.
Game Recap:
South Carolina built a 41-33 lead by halftime, but Kentucky fought back, trimming the deficit to 63-62 with seven minutes remaining after a driving layup from Amoore. The Wildcats had an opportunity to take the lead on their next possession, but Milaysia Fulwiley came up with a clutch block on Teonni Key’s shot under the basket. Fulwiley then sprinted coast-to-coast for a layup, igniting a decisive 12-2 run that sealed the Gamecocks’ victory.
South Carolina outscored Kentucky 13-2 in the closing six minutes to secure the win.
Key Takeaways:
- Kentucky’s Shooting Woes: The Wildcats struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 6 of 23 three-point attempts.
- Dominance on the Boards: South Carolina controlled the glass, outrebounding Kentucky 44-28.
Pivotal Moment:
Holding onto a three-point lead with five minutes to play, Paopao drained a crucial three-pointer that gave the Gamecocks breathing room and helped them pull away.
What’s Next:
Both teams now turn their attention to the SEC Tournament. Kentucky was already locked into the No. 4 seed regardless of Sunday’s outcom
