Greenville, S.C. – The energy inside the arena felt like a heavyweight championship bout, with two of the nation’s top teams battling for the SEC Tournament crown. On one side stood the defending champion, No. 1 South Carolina (29-3), looking to extend their dominance with a ninth straight victory. On the other side, No. 1 seed Texas (31-2), a powerhouse in its own right since joining the SEC, aimed to make a statement.
Under head coach Vic Schaefer, the Longhorns had been exceptional, compiling a 109-32 record and boasting both the SEC Coach of the Year and SEC Player of the Year in sophomore forward Madison Booker.
With the season series split at 1-1, the stage was set for a thrilling championship showdown.
From the opening tip, the atmosphere resembled anything but a neutral-site contest, as South Carolina fans filled the building with deafening support. The Gamecocks wasted no time, with Chloe Kitts driving the lane for an easy layup to open the scoring. South Carolina started strong, converting on their first two possessions, while Texas struggled to find its rhythm.
The Longhorns remained scoreless for the first three and a half minutes, as the Gamecocks’ defense clamped down early.
“I took two timeouts in the second quarter and we just could not stop (their momentum),” Texas coach Vic Schaefer said.
The first quarter was a defensive battle, with South Carolina holding a narrow 12-10 lead. Both teams struggled from the field, shooting under 35%, but while the Gamecocks won the turnover battle, they trailed in rebounds, with Texas holding a 12-9 edge. The Longhorns also committed five costly turnovers in the opening frame.
As the second quarter began, South Carolina capitalized on another Texas turnover to extend their lead. The Gamecocks turned up the defensive pressure, using their shot-blocking ability to spark fast breaks.
Two emphatic blocks in the quarter led to transition baskets, as South Carolina continued to dictate the pace. By halftime, the Gamecocks had seized full control, heading into the locker room with a commanding 33-16 advantage.
Texas came out aggressive to start the third quarter, connecting on its first three shots in an attempt to cut into the deficit. However, South Carolina’s defense quickly reasserted itself, forcing three more turnovers in just over three minutes.
The Longhorns endured a brutal scoring drought, missing four consecutive shots at the 4:20 mark and going more than seven minutes without a field goal. Texas finally broke through with a basket in the final minute of the period, but South Carolina delivered the perfect response—senior forward Kamilla Cardoso drilled a three-pointer at the buzzer, capping off another dominant quarter for the Gamecocks.
With South Carolina controlling the paint throughout the game, Texas attempted to shift its defensive focus in the fourth quarter, denying entry passes inside. However, the Gamecocks adjusted seamlessly, knocking down mid-range jumpers to maintain their lead.
“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.
“we face tremendous completion throughout this conference and it’s a shame someone has to loose. Someone has to win, Why not us?”
Sophomore guard Tessa Johnson, earning the nickname “Tournament Tessa,” delivered a clutch performance, finishing with 14 points on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting. Chloe Kitts led all scorers with 15 points, going 7-for-12 from the floor, while Rori Harmon paced Texas with 14 points.
In the end, South Carolina never trailed, delivering a resounding 64-45 victory to secure their 10th consecutive SEC Tournament title. The Gamecocks once again proved why they are the gold standard in the conference, dominating on both ends of the floor to claim yet another championship.
