Madina Okot led No. 3 South Carolina to a 112-71 victory over Missouri on Thursday, securing the team’s fifth consecutive Southeastern Conference (SEC) regular-season title. Okot finished with 26 points and 17 rebounds, while Joyce Edwards contributed 23 points for the Gamecocks.
South Carolina has dominated the SEC in recent years, compiling a record of 76 wins and three losses during its five-year run at the top. The team is now preparing for the conference tournament in Greenville, South Carolina, next week.
Following Sunday’s win over Mississippi that ensured at least a share of the title, celebrations were subdued. However, after defeating Missouri, the Gamecocks marked their achievement with smiles and dancing as they received their trophy at midcourt.
Missouri was unable to match South Carolina’s depth and size in this matchup. Okot scored 12 points and collected seven rebounds in just the first quarter as South Carolina built a commanding 33-13 lead. Edwards added 17 points by halftime, helping the Gamecocks take a 57-32 advantage into the break.
The team played without starter Tessa Johnson due to an upper-body injury.
Ta’Niya Latson had 17 points and Raven Johnson scored 16 for South Carolina; both players were recognized on Senior Night. With this win, South Carolina extended its winning streak to nine games since its only SEC loss this season at Oklahoma on January 22.
Grace Slaughter led Missouri with 21 points as her team suffered its fifth straight defeat.
With Thursday’s result, South Carolina completed an undefeated home season (16-0), marking the seventh time in program history—and fifth in seven seasons—that they have not lost at home. The team’s point total set a new program record for most scored in an SEC game, surpassing their previous mark of 106 set against Vanderbilt on January 14, 2021. All nine players who participated scored at least once; four reached double figures.
Okot recorded her sixth consecutive double-double—her nineteenth of the season—while Raven Johnson made a career-high four three-pointers and finished with five rebounds and five assists alongside her scoring output. Edwards tallied at least twenty points for the eighteenth time this year. Latson recorded her highest assist total in SEC play with seven assists along with her seventeen points. Maddy McDaniel also had a career night with nine points, tying personal bests in made threes (two) and steals (four).
“### BREAK ###”
