South Carolina beats LSU in Top 5 women's matchup

January 24, 2025 08:16 pm Eastern Time

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Joyce Edwards scored 14 points and Sania Feagin had 12 points and seven rebounds as No. 2 South Carolina held off a win on Friday night. A 66-56 win over No. 5 LSU ended the Tigers' undefeated season.

The Gamecocks (19-1, 7-0 Southeastern Conference) have won 17 straight games against LSU, winning all five since Kim Mulkey took over as Tigers coach. The matchup was postponed from its original prime-time slot on Thursday night due to winter storms, but featured all the typical drama in a game between the past three national championship teams.

Anissa Morrow had 15 points and 16 rebounds. It was her 93rd career double-double, tying her with Oregon's Jillian Alleyne for the second-most in Division I history. Flau'jae Johnson added 13 points for LSU (20-1, 5-1).

South Carolina opened a 10-point lead in the third quarter and LSU (20-1, 5-1) was unable to respond. The Tigers' loss leaves No. 1 UCLA, the only team to beat South Carolina this season, as the only undefeated team in the country.

South Carolina has won 69 straight home games and 54 straight in the SEC regular season. The home winning streak is tied with Tennessee (1991-96) for the longest in SEC history and tied for the fourth-longest in Division I history.

The Gamecocks held the Tigers to 5-of-20 shooting in the third quarter and 23-of-77 (29.9%) for the game. This was the first time in Mulkey's 126 games that LSU shot below 30 percent. Johnson, the Tigers' leading scorer, scored just two points in the second half.

Main points

LSU: The Tigers won national championships in coach Kim Mulkey's first three seasons, but lost all five games during that span. South Carolina is the only program that has suffered multiple losses during Mulkey's tenure at LSU.

Completed together

South Carolina's defense shut down LSU after the first quarter, and the Tigers only made 13 total field goals after giving up 10 in the first quarter:

	first quarter	2nd to 4th place
integral	twenty two	34
FG	10-20 days	13-57
paint spots	14	18
——ESPN Research

South Carolina: There was no doubt who was in charge in the SEC as the Gamecocks defeated four inline conference opponents.

critical moment

Te'Hina Paopao had just made a basket to take a 41-35 lead, but South Carolina forced two quick turnovers and led to an easy layup to extend its third-quarter lead.

key data

South Carolina had 13 steals and 11 blocks against LSU.

Next

LSU hosts Texas A&M on Sunday and South Carolina plays Tennessee on Monday.

This report uses information from ESPN Research and The Associated Press.