Columbia, S.C. — Even shorthanded, No. 3 South Carolina Gamecocks delivered a dominant performance Sunday afternoon, pulling away in the second half to overwhelm the Penn State Lady Lions 95–55.
Sophomore standout Joyce Edwards led the way with a career-high 29 points and four blocks, powering a decisive third-quarter surge that turned a competitive first half into a runaway victory. Edwards eclipsed her previous scoring best with a bucket in the final period, continuing a breakout season for the Gamecocks.
South Carolina (10–1) entered the game with just eight available players and without key frontcourt pieces Madina Okot and freshman reserve Agot Makeer. Despite the depleted rotation, the Gamecocks imposed their will immediately after halftime, opening the third quarter on a blistering 19–3 run.
Ta’Niya Latson added 18 points, while Raven Johnson and Tessa Johnson chipped in 15 points apiece to give South Carolina balanced scoring across the lineup.
Overcoming Key Absences
South Carolina announced shortly before tipoff that Okot, the team’s leading rebounder and shot blocker, would miss the game. Okot, who entered the contest averaging 14.8 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, had started the first 10 games of the season and leads the nation with seven double-doubles.
Head coach Dawn Staley previously noted that Okot had felt ill during last week’s win over North Carolina Central, forcing her out midway through that contest and ultimately sidelining her against Penn State.
Without Okot, reserves Adhel Tac and Maryam Dauda were tasked with defending Penn State’s top scorer, Gracie Merkle. The strategy proved effective, as Merkle picked up two early fouls and was limited to just nine first-half minutes. South Carolina carried a 46–34 advantage into the locker room.
Merkle finished with nine points and nine rebounds before fouling out. Kiyomi McMiller paced Penn State (6–4) with 22 points.
Looking Ahead:
Penn State heads to Richmond, Virginia, to face VCU Rams on Saturday at the 4 The Culture Holiday Hoops Classic.
South Carolina continues its road stretch Thursday night with a matchup against the USF Bulls, carrying momentum from another emphatic showing despite adversity.
