dawn staley was at the center of the moment Saturday as No. 3 South Carolina pushed past No. 6 LSU, 83-77, in Greenville, South Carolina. The Gamecocks’ win sends them back to the SEC Championship matchup on Sunday, with a 3 p. m. (ET) tip time set. The result also extended South Carolina’s streak to 19 straight wins over LSU, powered by a second-half offensive surge and a late fourth-quarter push that decided the semifinal.
South Carolina closes out LSU with late fourth-quarter run
South Carolina’s separation came when it mattered most: midway through the fourth quarter, the Gamecocks put together a 12-4 run led by Joyce Edwards, creating a lead they did not relinquish. Raven Johnson delivered a career-high 22 points, setting the scoring pace on a night that featured a flurry of offense in the second half.
Johnson was one of four South Carolina players in double figures. Ta’Niya Latson added 19 points, Edwards scored 18, and Tessa Johnson finished with 11. On the other side, former Gamecock MiLaysia Fulwiley led LSU with 24 points in the loss.
The win places South Carolina one step from another conference tournament trophy. The Gamecocks will face the winner of the other semifinal between No. 4 Texas and No. 24 Ole Miss, with the SEC Championship game scheduled to air on at 3 p. m. (ET) Sunday.
Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks surge back into the title game picture
With the semifinal secured, dawn staley now has South Carolina heading into the SEC Tournament title game after another high-level test against LSU. The matchup carried a clear headline number: the Gamecocks’ 19th straight win over the Tigers, a streak that continued as South Carolina’s offense found another gear after halftime.
The box-score balance stood out. South Carolina did not rely on a single scoring source; instead, four players reached double digits, anchored by Raven Johnson’s career-high 22. LSU kept pressure on behind MiLaysia Fulwiley’s 24, but South Carolina’s late run — the 12-4 burst led by Edwards — proved decisive in the closing stretch.
Immediate reactions
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley was not quoted in the information available as of Saturday night (ET). LSU personnel also were not quoted in the information available as of Saturday night (ET). Any additional on-record comments from coaches or players are expected to come with postgame availability ahead of Sunday’s championship game.
Quick context
South Carolina entered Saturday’s semifinal as No. 3 and LSU as No. 6, meeting in Greenville, South Carolina. The Gamecocks’ victory set up a return trip to the SEC Championship game on Sunday.
What’s next at 3 p. m. (ET) Sunday
South Carolina will meet the winner of No. 4 Texas vs. No. 24 Ole Miss in the SEC Championship game, tipping at 3 p. m. (ET) Sunday on. The Gamecocks will be looking to claim their fourth straight SEC Tournament title, and dawn staley will guide the next step with a trophy on the line.
