Columbia, SC—–Both South Carolina and Duke entered their matchup with identical 1-1 records, each coming off notable performances. South Carolina bounced back strongly in their most recent game against Iowa State after suffering a tough loss to UCLA in their previous contest.
The Gamecocks came out firing against Duke, quickly jumping to a 15-6 lead with 4:38 remaining in the first quarter. They shot an impressive 75% from the field while their defense stifled Duke, limiting them to just 33% shooting.
Throughout the quarter, South Carolina remained focused, efficient, and dominant. By the end of the first period, they had built a commanding 28-10 lead.
South Carolina’s defense set the tone early, holding Duke to only five points during the opening minutes of the game. The Gamecocks finished the quarter with 13 steals and eight blocks—both ranking as the second-highest totals for the season. In the second quarter, they continued their relentless defensive pressure, forcing Duke into difficult shot attempts.
Freshman point guard Maddy McDaniel further solidified her role as an emerging talent, earning significant minutes as the season progresses. Her contributions make her a valuable piece in Coach Dawn Staley’s varied lineups.
The Gamecocks forced 10 Duke turnovers in the first half, with six steals—five of which came in the second quarter alone. South Carolina entered halftime with a commanding 51-31 lead.
Coach Staley’s second unit, which featured Fulwiley, Watkins, Tessa Johnson, McDaniel, and Joyce Edwards, dominated much of the third quarter. Fulwiley capped off the period with an impressive iso move, faking left and driving to the right side of the basket to score just as the clock expired, marking her first points of the game. At the end of the third quarter, South Carolina led 68-48.
As the game approached the final stretch, with 7:00 remaining, Coach Staley reinserted her starting lineup after Duke had managed to trim South Carolina’s lead from 20 down to 8 points. Junior forward Chloe Kitts continued to shine, finishing the game with a career-high 21 points and 11 rebounds, securing her third double-double of the season.
Te-Hina Paopao and Sania Feagin each contributed 11 points, with Paopao going an efficient 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.
Duke’s Tania Mair and Delaney Thomas led the Blue Devils with 14 points each, but it wasn’t enough to overcome South Carolina’s dominant performance. The Gamecocks triumphed 81-70, securing their eighth victory of the season in the ACC/SEC Challenge.
Duke will open ACC play at home against Virginia Tech on Sunday, while South Carolina will face another top-10 challenge, taking on No. 9 TCU on the same day.
