Joyce Edwards scored 21 points, Madina Okot had her eighth straight double-double and No. 3 South Carolina rolled past No. 17 Kentucky 87-64 in the first quarterfinal of the SEC women’s basketball tournament Friday afternoon in Greenville, S.C.
Okot finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds, Tessa Johnson scored 15 points and Ta’Niya Latson added 11 and six assists for the top-seeded Gamecocks (30-2), who won their 11th consecutive game, including a 60-56 victory against the host Wildcats in the regular-season finale on Sunday.
South Carolina, which finished with a 25-8 advantage in points off turnovers, took control by outscoring the ninth-seeded Wildcats 22-11 in the second quarter to open a 44-27 halftime lead. The Gamecocks will face fourth-seeded LSU in the semifinals Saturday.
Amelia Hassett scored 15 points, Teonni Key had 13 points and eight rebounds, Clara Strack scored 11 and Asia Boone put up 10 to lead Kentucky (23-10).
No. 6 LSU 112, No. 7 Oklahoma 78
MiLaysia Fulwiley had 22 points and eight assists, four teammates scored in double figures and the fourth-seeded Tigers rolled past the fifth-seeded Sooners with their highest point total against an SEC opponent this season.
Flau’jae Johnson poured in 21 points, Mikaylah Williams scored 14, Jada Richard had 13 and Bella Hines added 10 for LSU (27-4), which led 45-33 at halftime and 72-49 after three quarters.
Aaliyah Chavez scored 20 points and Sahara Williams added 19 points and nine rebounds for Oklahoma (24-7), which had won its last seven games. Center Raegan Beers, who averages 16.0 points and 10.4 rebounds, finished with six points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes before fouling out.
–Field Level Media
