South Carolina women's basketball: Three Gamecocks top 20 points in rout of Winthrop

Winthrop scored first Wednesday night, but then South Carolina scored a lot. Three Gamecocks scored 20 or more points as South Carolina routed Winthrop 106-56

The game was a mismatch going in. Winthrop has just nine healthy players, with just one player over 6-0, 6-3, Australian Naomi Wilson, and another at an even 6-0, Texan Tocarra Johnson. That’s not a recipe for success against a team that was too long and athletic for then-no. 8 Southern Cal just a few days ago.

So it wasn’t a surprise that after Madison Ruff gave Winthrop a 2-0 lead, South Carolina went on a 16-2 run. Or that there was a 12-0 run in the second quarter. Or a 9-0 run. Or an 8-0 run. 

The surprise was the ruthless efficiency from South Carolina on the offensive end. 

The Gamecocks shot 77% in the first half. They cooled off to a mere 54% in the second half, but still shot 64% for the game.

Led by 10 dimes from Raven Johnson, South Carolina assisted on 25 of its 43 baskets. 

South Carolina’s big three of Ta’Nya Latson, Joyce Edwards, and Madina Okot also delivered. Latson packed an entire game into the first half, scoring 20 points and going 7-7 from the floor. She finished with 24 points on 8-11 shooting with five rebounds and four assists.

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“We know we’ve got two top ten matchups coming up, so we know we’ve got to put the ball in the hoop,” Latson said. “Sharing the ball is something coach harps on. I think we executed that well today.”

Okot might have had the best game of the three. She tied her career-high with 23 points, making her first 10 shot attempts. Okot also grabbed 11 rebounds for her third double-double of the season, and had three assists and three blocks.

“Madina was cleaning up a lot of stuff, and we were intentional about getting her the ball as well,” Staley said. “We need Madina to be dominant. We need dominance on her part every time she steps on the floor. She’s getting more and more comfortable. I think there’s a little bit more structure out there to where she knows where she needs to be and she’s getting more comfortable.”

Edwards scored 22 points and had five rebounds. Agot Makeer also reached double figures with 12 points, and was second on the team with seven rebounds and four assists, and led the team with two steals.

It had been over a decade since the last time South Carolina had three players score at least 20 points. On December 14, 2014, in a 111-49 win over Savannah State. A’ja Wilson had 23 points, Elem Ibiam had 21, and Alaina Coates had 20. The last time before that was in 2003 against Clemson.

“We all can score the ball,” Latson said. “We do a really good job of sharing the ball.”

South Carolina held Winthrop to 32% shooting with just eight assists on 21 baskets. South Carolina nearly doubled Winthrop on the glass, 46-24, and finished plus-six in turnovers and plus-18 in points off turnovers.

Mya Pierfax led Winthrop with 16 points.

Notes:

Reserve point guard missed her third consecutive game due to an indefinite suspension. … All nine available Gamecocks played. The last time South Carolina had two players score 20+ points was January 12, 2023, against Kentucky, when Aliyah Boston scored 21 and Zia Cooke scored 20. … Tessa Johnson had nine points. … Adhel Tac had six points and five rebounds. … South Carolina had 70 points in the paint. … Winthrop’s lead lasted eight seconds. … Dawn Staley’s outfit: Staley wore a white Gucci jacket over a white shirt with dark pants. … Announced attendance was 15,787. … South Carolina’s next game is on Sunday against Queens.

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