COLUMBIA, S.C. — In front of a sold-out crowd on Thursday night, South Carolina leaned on late poise and defensive grit to outlast Texas 68–65 in a hard-fought conference battle at Colonial Life Arena.
The Gamecocks set the tone immediately, winning the opening tip and getting an early 3-pointer from junior guard Tessa Johnson, who stepped into her shot at the top of the key after a pass from senior Raven Johnson. South Carolina applied pressure from the outset, forcing two quick Texas turnovers, though the Gamecocks were guilty of early miscues themselves. The opening minutes were tight, with South Carolina holding a slim 7–6 edge midway through the first quarter.
The energy in the building surged at the 5:55 mark of the first period when highly anticipated freshman Alicia Tournebize made her season debut. The 6-foot-7 forward from France, who played professionally overseas before joining the Gamecocks in December, entered to a roaring ovation in her first appearance since arriving in Columbia on Jan. 1.
Texas countered by sitting in a zone defense throughout much of the first quarter, clogging the paint and forcing South Carolina to rely on perimeter shooting. The Gamecocks struggled to find a rhythm, shooting just 25 percent from the field in the opening period. Texas, meanwhile, was more efficient, shooting 44 percent and converting 6 of 7 free throws to take a 20–13 lead after one.
South Carolina responded in the second quarter with renewed urgency, opening the period on a 6–0 run, again sparked by Tessa Johnson. The Gamecocks clawed back within one with 6:25 remaining in the half but stalled offensively after consecutive turnovers. Still, the defensive pressure never relented. In the final minute, South Carolina forced three straight Texas turnovers, igniting the crowd and creating a chance to close the half strong.
Despite continued shooting struggles — the Gamecocks finished the half at 34 percent — South Carolina capitalized late. A foul with 0.3 seconds left sent sophomore Joyce Edwards to the line, where she calmly knocked down both free throws to tie the game at 32–32 at halftime. Edwards, South Carolina’s leading scorer, was just 1-for-8 from the field in the first half.
The Gamecocks emerged from the locker room with a noticeably more aggressive approach. They attacked the rim, moved the ball with purpose, and briefly seized the lead early in the third quarter. Texas’ senior defensive specialist picked up her third foul past the midway point of the period, forcing head coach Vic Schaefer to turn to his bench.
The third quarter was played at a frenetic pace, with both teams trading runs. South Carolina shot a blistering 63.6 percent in the period but committed eight turnovers, allowing Texas to stay within striking distance. The Longhorns held a narrow 49–48 lead heading into the final quarter.
Texas ramped up the pressure to open the fourth, deploying a full-court press that disrupted South Carolina’s offensive flow. The final period turned into a physical, whistle-filled battle, with seven fouls called between the teams in just over five minutes. With 4:57 remaining, the score was deadlocked at 52.
South Carolina finally broke through when center Madina Okot buried a wide-open 3-pointer with 3:21 left. Moments later, Raven Johnson delivered the decisive sequence, driving to the rim for a tough finish with the shot clock winding down, then following it up on the next possession with a smooth finger roll through traffic. The senior guard’s late surge pushed the Gamecocks ahead 66–61 with 23.2 seconds remaining.
“Rae is a playmaker,” head coach Dawn Staley said afterward. “That was her decision to take over and close the game.”
Joyce Edwards sealed the win in the final seconds, securing a crucial rebound after a missed 3-pointer by Texas’ Madison Booker that could have tied the game. Edwards finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, leading all Gamecocks despite shooting 3-for-11 from the field. She was nearly flawless at the line, converting 8 of 9 free throws.
All five South Carolina starters scored in double figures. Tessa Johnson added 13 points, Ta’Niya Latson had 12, and Raven Johnson and Okot each finished with 10. The Gamecocks overcame 20 turnovers in a game that saw both teams combine for 42 miscues.
Booker led all scorers with 24 points for Texas, which dropped its second straight conference game. Despite the loss, Schaefer praised his team’s effort.
“When I walked off that floor tonight, I know I’ve got a hell of a team,” Schaefer said. “We could stay overnight and play again tomorrow if they wanted.”
South Carolina will travel to Maryland to face Coppin State on Sunday. Texas returns home looking to bounce back against Texas A&M.
