The No. 1 seed South Carolina women’s basketball team defeated the No. 4 seed Oklahoma Sooners 94-68 in the NCAA Tournament in Sacramento, California, Saturday night. The Gamecocks will now make their sixth consecutive appearance in the Elite Eight.
South Carolina opened the game offensively, with senior guard Ta’Niya Latson scoring a layup after tipoff and following it up on the next possession with a 3-pointer. A hook shot by senior guard Raven Johnson added to a 7-0 run for the Gamecocks. The Sooners got their first start of the day with a 2-pointer from sophomore guard Zya Vann.
Oklahoma senior center Raegan Beers got her first points in the paint. South Carolina senior center Madina Okot and freshman guard Aaliyah Chavez traded 3-pointers, bringing the score to a 15-9 Gamecocks' lead with three minutes left in the first quarter.
Junior guard Tessa Johnson got her first points of the game with a 3-pointer, while Raven Johnson ran the floor to secure another layup, ending the first quarter with 9 points. South Carolina entered the second quarter up 23-13.
Latson started yet another quarter for the Gamecocks with a 2-pointer, and freshman guard Agot Makeer followed suit with a 3-pointer, stretching the lead to 28-13 and forcing Oklahoma to call a timeout.
Freshman forward Alicia Tournebize got her first score of the game on a touch pass assist in the paint by sophomore forward Joyce Edwards. Raven Johnson continued to add to South Carolina’s lead with a floater, contributing 16 points to a 39-22 score with three minutes until halftime.
Latson was fouled on a made 3-pointer and turned it into a 4-point play. Oklahoma missed a layup at the buzzer and left the score at 47-28 to end the half.
Okot ended the first half with seven rebounds, and Edwards followed closely behind with five. Offensively, Latson and Raven Johnson combined for 34 of South Carolina’s points.
Edwards contributed her first points with a long 2-pointer to kick off the second half. Oklahoma immediately responded with a 3-pointer by redshirt senior guard Payton Verhulst. Edwards was fouled by Chavez and knocked down two free throws.
Tessa Johnson gained her own momentum with a reverse layup, back-to-back 2-pointers and a 3-pointer, stretching the lead to 60-38 and pressuring Oklahoma to call another timeout.
Okot hit a put-back with seconds to spare as South Carolina ended the third quarter up 19 on the Sooners. Both teams managed an equal 21 points offensively in the third.
Makeer turned a 2-pointer into a 3-point play after being fouled by Vann. Latson hit her third 3-pointer of the night. Chavez answered with a 3-pointer of her own for Oklahoma. Okot finished an elbow shot for Edwards. Chavez hit the free-throw line for Oklahoma following a foul by Makeer.
Latson was fouled on a fast break layup, securing two free throws for South Carolina. Latson hit her fourth 3-pointer of the game, maintaining a perfect 3-pointer percentage. Senior forward Maryam Dauda hit two more free throws, adding to South Carolina’s lead, 87-62, with three minutes left in the fourth quarter.
South Carolina ended the game with four players in double digits offensively, with Latson contributing 28. Chavez contributed a high of 21 points for Oklahoma. The Gamecocks secured the win, outscoring the Sooners 94-68 and advancing to the Elite Eight.
What's next?
South Carolina will face off against No. 3 seed TCU in the Elite Eight, which will take place on Monday at 9 p.m in Sacramento. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.