No. 5 South Carolina gives No. 2 LSU its first loss of the season, 66–56

On By Littum

No. 5 South Carolina extended her home win series to 69 games and delivered No. 2 LSU his first loss of the season with a 66-56 victory in Columbia last Friday.

The match was postponed from Wednesday due to the winter storm Enzo, which prevented the tigers from flying out of Baton Rouge.

Joyce Edwards scored 14 points, while Sania Feagin added 12 to lead a Gamecock’s effort spreading the scoring around. Tessa Johnson contributed nine points from the bench, followed by eight from Milaysia Fulwiley and seven of the Chloe Kitts.

With the victory, South Carolina improves to 19-1 with a 7-0 marker in SEC.

After a furious opening of 10 minutes, where both teams were up and down on the floor, where LSU took a 22-21 lead, the second quarter was harsh with few shots that fell.

LSU missed its last 13 shots of the quarter and scored only eight points, the lowest result in a quarter of this season. Still, Tigers were only behind 33-30, helped by a 29-18 rebound edge in the first half, including 15 offensive boards.

South Carolina increased the pace of the third and created separation with an 8-0 race midway throughout the quarter led by Raven Johnson’s four points. Despite LSU’s overall rebound edge, Gamecock’s important offensive rebounds grabbed that led to points. Tiger’s head coach Kim Mulkey showed his frustration and was looking for someone other than Aneesah Morrow to hit the boards.

The quarter ended with South Carolina expanding her lead to 51–41. Between the third and fourth, LSU went nine minutes without a field goal from the floor. Overall, Tigers shot 28% (18-of-65) from the floor. Gamecocks’ defense was violent and compiled 13 steals and 11 blocks.

MORROW led LSU with 15 points and 16 rebounds, followed by 13 from both Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams. Tigers fell to 20-1 this season and took its first defeat in the regular season in 28 games going back to last season.

“I think they are the best in the country,” mulkey told journalists afterwards. “I don’t know if I’ve ever trained against a team that has 10 McDonald’s All-American on a list … and how to hold 10 McDonald’s All-American on a list?”

South Carolina next time to Knoxville for another SEC showdown against No. 17 Tennessee (15-4) on Monday at. 19 et. LSU hosts Texas A&M (10-8) Sunday at. 16 et.