South Carolina won the last two SEC championships, including last year's victory over Mississippi State in the final, but it was a player who could only watch 2016's title game who secured the three-peat for the Gamecocks.
Kaela Davis, who sat out last season after transferring from Georgia Tech, had 23 points in Sunday's win over the Bulldogs. Not only was Davis scoring and facilitating the offense, she was taking on All-SEC forward Victoria Vivians on the other end, keeping Mississippi State's leading scorer's impact to a minimum.
Davis had plenty of help from A'ja Wilson, the key piece of the Gamecocks' junior class that has never lost an SEC Tournament game. Wilson finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, capping an impressive weekend that earned her tournament MVP.
"A'ja Wilson is the best player in the country," Dawn Staley said after the win. "Let's just get that out there."
South Carolina jumped out to a big lead early, forcing a quick timeout from Mississippi State. After trailing 14-5, the Bulldogs closed the first quarter with an 8-0 run, cutting the margin to just one.
The Bulldogs carried a five-point lead into the fourth quarter after closing the third on an 11-4 run, led by seven points from 6-foot-7 center Teaira McCowan.
"She's a great player," Wilson said of McCowan. "She kind of gave me a different look I hadn't really seen throughout the tournament, so it was kind of difficult to get around her."
The Gamecocks struggled at times to contain McCowan, who finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds, but Davis and Co. locked down Vivians, holding her to nine points on 3-of-10 shooting.
The No. 5 Gamecocks out-scored Mississippi State 19-4 in the final period, led by 14 combined points from Davis and Wilson, who were both named to the All-Tournament Team. South Carolina scored the final nine points, including a clutch three from freshman Tyasha Harris, to put the game on ice.
After the game, Mississippi State head coach Vic Schaefer didn't seem too excited about having to face Harris for the next three years.
With the win, South Carolina claims its third straight SEC Tournament win and cements itself as a potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Gamecocks will await the NCAA Selection Show, which will take place at 6 p.m. on March 13.