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South Carolina kept its iron grip on LSU Saturday night, pulling out a 79-72 victory while guard Tessa Johnson etched her name into the program’s recent history. The Gamecocks’ win extended a long streak over the Tigers and produced a personal milestone for Johnson, who has now posted back-to-back 20-point outings against Top-10 opponents.
How the scoreboard read and why the win mattered
The No. 3 Gamecocks improved to 25-2 overall and 11-1 in SEC play. LSU fell to 22-4 and 8-4 in conference action. The final 79-72 margin underlined South Carolina’s late-game poise and defensive grit.
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- Final score: South Carolina 79, LSU 72
- South Carolina: 25-2 overall, 11-1 SEC
- LSU: 22-4 overall, 8-4 SEC
Tessa Johnson’s breakout stretch vs. Top-10 opponents
Tessa Johnson scored 21 points in the contest and joined Aliyah Boston as the only Gamecocks with consecutive 20-point games against AP Top-10 teams in recent seasons. ESPN Insights flagged the streak as the first of its kind for South Carolina since Boston did it in 2019-20.
Johnson’s game details
- 21 points vs. LSU
- 3-for-4 from long range
- Season averages: about 13.9 PPG, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists
- Field-goal percentage sits near 49.2%
Johnson scored 11 points in the second quarter alone, helping flip a slim early deficit into a halftime edge.
Supporting cast lifted the effort
South Carolina’s offense was a group effort. Raven Johnson added 19 points, while Madina Okot dominated the glass with a 12-point, 17-rebound double-double. Joyce Edwards chipped in 10 points, rounding out a balanced attack.
Okot’s second-half play and rebounding proved essential as the Gamecocks sealed the win in the closing minute.
Turning points and late-game drama
South Carolina erased a 21-16 deficit from the first quarter. By halftime the Gamecocks led 41-40 after a productive second quarter. The closing minutes were tense.
- Trailed 73-72 late, LSU had a chance to go ahead with 45.5 seconds left.
- Flau’jae Johnson missed two free throws in that possession.
- Okot answered with a layup and two free throws as part of a six-point run.
The Tigers struggled near the rim all night, missing 10 layups and nine free throws. Those misses proved decisive.
LSU’s top contributors
Flau’jae Johnson paced LSU with 21 points. Mikaylah Williams added 11. Despite their scoring, the Tigers couldn’t overcome inefficiency in the paint and at the line.
Milestones for Dawn Staley and head-to-head context
The victory also marked a personal milestone for coach Dawn Staley. She notched her 500th career win leading the program. Against coach Kim Mulkey’s LSU, Staley improved her record, extending a dominant stretch in the matchup.
What’s next for both teams
South Carolina heads to Tuscaloosa to face No. 23 Alabama on Thursday. LSU travels to play No. 16 Ole Miss. Both games carry SEC weight and could affect seeding and ranking trajectories.
This story includes reporting contributed by Ron Higgins of The Associated Press.
