Columbia, S.C. – The No. 2 ranked South Carolina Gamecocks cruised to an 82-46 victory over the Charleston Southern Buccaneers, securing their 11th win of the season and extending their home win streak to 64 games.
Despite the dominant final score, the Gamecocks faced an uncharacteristically slow start. South Carolina struggled early, hitting just 1 of 8 shots through the first 4:39 of the game, allowing the Buccaneers to take an early lead. Charleston Southern capitalized on the Gamecocks’ shooting woes, ending the first quarter ahead 15-11.
The Buccaneers managed to keep the game close until midway through the third quarter, when Bree Hall hit a crucial 3-pointer to spark South Carolina’s offense. That shot triggered a 23-11 run, giving the Gamecocks control of the game. From there, South Carolina pulled away in the second half.
Freshman forward Joyce Edwards led the Gamecocks with 20 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. Veteran guards Te-Hina Paopao and Raven Johnson contributed 17 points, eight rebounds, two blocks, and five steals, shooting a combined 5-of-10 from the field. Ashlyn Watkins, continuing to find her rhythm after missing much of the preseason due to personal matters, added eight points, eight rebounds, and three blocks.
Charleston Southern (4-9) was led by Catherine Alben, who scored 14 points. Despite the loss, the Buccaneers showed resilience, keeping the score close until the third quarter. Charleston Southern’s defense limited South Carolina to just 2-of-13 shooting in the first quarter and was still within striking distance as late as the midway point of the third quarter.
South Carolina’s defense eventually took over, forcing 23 turnovers and converting those into 11 steals. The Gamecocks closed the third quarter on a 5-0 run, with three of those points coming in transition, as they turned defense into offense. As a team, South Carolina shot 46% from the field, 33% from beyond the arc, and 82.6% from the free-throw line, while out-rebounding the Buccaneers 26-20.
The Gamecocks (11-1) will enjoy a 10-day break before their next game, while Charleston Southern will return to action on January 2 against Gardner-Webb.
