At a Glance
- Tessa Johnson and Madina Okot each scored 18 points.
- South Carolina won 96-55 over Providence.
- Guard Ta’Niya Latson left with a lower-leg injury in the second quarter.
Why it matters: The Gamecocks’ dominant win is shadowed by the loss of a top scorer, raising questions about depth heading into conference play.
South Carolina cruised past Providence in a one-to-one blowout, but the victory was marred by the injury to guard Ta’Niya Latson, the team’s second-leading scorer and last season’s national points-per-game leader.
Game Highlights
Tessa Johnson and Madina Okot each finished with 18 points, while Johnson hit five 3-pointers and Okot recorded her 10th double-double, tying the national lead with Raegan Beers. The Gamecocks posted 24 assists on 36 field goals, and six players scored in double figures, including Latson’s 10 points before the injury.
Coach Dawn Staley noted:
> “She’s smiling. She was here, she got treatment all through the second half. She just walked out. We’ll look at her tomorrow.”
Injury Impact
Latson, who led the country in points per game last season, exited in the second quarter after injuring her lower left leg. She was helped off the court with no weight on the foot and had 10 points at the time of departure.
Agot Makeer praised the team’s resilience:
> “We knew they were going to collapse really hard (on Edwards). We started to hit the one-mores a little more.”
The Gamecocks’ defense was not sharp, yet the offense produced enough to secure the win.
| Metric | South Carolina | Providence |
|---|---|---|
| 3-point % | 41.4% (12 of 29) | Not provided |
| Total Points | 96 | 55 |
| Assists | 24 | Not provided |
South Carolina’s bench remains thin; freshman center Alicia Tournebize, a 6-foot-7 French import, is expected to join the roster by January, but the exact date is unknown. The team has dressed a full 10 players in only five of its 13 games.
Key Takeaways
- Tessa Johnson and Madina Okot each scored 18 points in a decisive win.
- Guard Ta’Niya Latson suffered a lower-leg injury and left with 10 points.
- The Gamecocks’ 3-point shooting reached 41.4%, surpassing their national rank of 15th.
South Carolina’s victory over Providence underscores the team’s offensive firepower, but the injury to a key scorer highlights concerns about depth as they head into SEC play.
