South Carolina vs. Oklahoma — March 8, 2025, Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Final Score: South Carolina 93, Oklahoma 75

By Ryana Garner

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Two teams with explosive energy collided in the SEC semifinals, but it was South Carolina’s Dominance in the paint and relentless defense that secured their 93-75 victory over Oklahoma, which led to their sixth consecutive SEC Championship appearance.

Freshman Joyce Edward’s led the game with 21 points and five rebounds, while MiLaysia Fulwiley added 19 points and five assists, showcasing the Gamecocks’ depth and chemistry on both ends of the court.

”This team is committed to the process and each other,” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said after the win. “When you commit at that level, you can dominate some historical things.”

Why This Game Mattered

The Semifinals is what determines who will make it to the SEC Championship. This game in particular showed South Carolina’s continued dominance in the conference. Though Oklahoma is ranked the second-best rebounding team in the nation, the Gamecocks out-rebounded them, further proving that they are a powerhouse. All of South Carolina’s forwards scored in double figures, emphasizing on how smart and tactical they are on offense.

Game Summary

First Half:

The game started off in a fast pace with South Carolina’s Sania Feagin hitting a midrange jumper to open the scoring. Oklahoma’s Raegan Beers quickly responded, setting the tone for a fast-paced back-and-forth battle.

Freshman Joyce Edwards found her rhythm, dominating inside of the paint. The Gamecocks displayed hardcore defense, resulting in Oklahoma having over 10 turnovers in the first half. Their quick hands and sharp anticipation led to multiple steals, disrupting Oklahoma’s flow and turning defense into offense.

Te-Hina PaoPao also created the offensive, dishing out crisp assists, including a beautiful assist for Feagin. MiLaysia Fulwiley also did not hesitate to share the ball with her teammates. She had multiple beautifully executed assists. The Gamecocks’ bench made an early impact, with nearly every player who touched the floor contributing to the scoreboard. By halftime, South Carolina had built a 45-28 lead.

Second Half:

Oklahoma began to turn up the heat with Sahara Williams sinking a much-needed three-pointer to start the Sooner’s offense. Payton Verhulst also followed with a deep three, injecting life into Oklahoma’s sideline.

Despite their efforts, the Sooners struggled with turnovers and couldn’t match South Carolina’s rebounding presence. Even as Neveah Tot hit a buzzer-beater three to end the third quarter, offense was still a bit of a struggle.

Coach Staley made excellent use of her bench, rotating the players, who stepped up to maintain the team’s intensity. While Oklahoma battled until the final buzzer, the Gamecocks continuously dominated inside the paint and their defensive players were too much to overcome.

The game ended with a 22-point lead for South Carolina, 93-75, sending to another championship showdown.

Key Stats and Standout players

South Carolina:

  • Joyce Edwards: 21 pts, 5 rebounds
  • Milaysia Fulwiley: 19 pts, 5 assists, 3 rebounds

Oklahoma:

  • Payton Verhulst: 15 pts, 9 assists, 6 rebounds
  • Sahara Williams: 17 pts, 1 assist, 5 rebounds

Post-Game Reactions

”We have a team full of players who are committed to the process and each other,” said Coach Staley. “When you commit at that level, you can do some historical things.”

Oklahoma head coach Jennie Baranczyk acknowledged the challenge of facing such a dominant team. “They’re very, very good — very disciplined on the defensive end. They stretch you out on the offensive end. The whole environment made it difficult for us,” she said. “We’ve gotten better, but we’vegot a long way to go — especially, the deeper you go, the more you get, and the mental toughness comes out.”

What’s Next:

With this win, South Carolina will advance to the SEC Championship, where they will face the winner of the Texas vs. LSU matchup. Meanwhile, Oklahoma will regroup and wait for their NCAA tournament seed, hoping to carry lessons from this defeat into the postseason.