USC fights, South Carolina finishes

Gamecocks Win 69 to 52 at Crypto

LOS ANGELES, CA (News 4 Us Online) — Same floor, same letters, different realities. No. 2 South Carolina walked into Crypto.com Arena with a traveling crowd and walked out with a grown up road win, 69 to 52, built on rebounding, discipline, and a frontcourt that set the terms of every possession.

Before tip, I watched Jazzy Davidson and Malia Samuels warm up, both of them moving smooth and locked in. I also had a quick courtside conversation with USC assistant coach Nikki Blue who smiled and told me it should be an exciting game. Early on, she was right.

How it opened and how it shifted

South Carolina set the tone first. Number 25 R. Johnson scored five points in the first five minutes, helping the Gamecocks jump out to an 11 to 4 lead. USC responded with a three, tightened up on defense, and closed the first quarter with a 7 to 0 run to make it 16 to 20.

In the second quarter, USC grabbed its first lead after forcing back to back South Carolina travels. The pace flipped, the energy in the building shifted, and the Trojans finally looked comfortable speeding things up. South Carolina responded immediately, and Malia Samuels buried a buzzer beater to keep it close at halftime, 30 to 32.

USC had momentum. They needed their shots to catch up.

The third quarter swing

Then the third quarter arrived, and everything changed.

USC committed seven turnovers in that period alone. South Carolina shut down driving lanes, rotated with discipline, and erased second chance opportunities by dominating the boards. The lead stretched quickly into double digits, the game slowed to South Carolina’s preferred pace, and USC suddenly had to score against a fully set defense every trip. That is one of the toughest assignments in women’s college basketball.

What actually decided it

South Carolina won the glass 56 to 32, a plus 24 advantage.

South Carolina shot 41 percent from the field and 40 percent from three. USC shot 33 percent and went 1 for 14 from deep.

South Carolina stayed composed even with 17 turnovers.

Okot controlled the interior, shut off USC’s drives, and posted one of the most important plus minus performances of the night.

Once the third quarter broke open, tempo belonged to the Gamecocks.

USC’s view of the night

Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb was direct. She said pace was not the issue and pointed to the 1 for 14 from three and the missed finishes at the rim.

Without JuJu Watkins who is out with an ACL injury, USC is learning and developing its identity in real time. Kennedy Smith is stepping into a louder and more consistent leadership role. Kara Dunn continues to score and battle on the boards. Jazzy Davidson is learning where her strengths fit inside this system.

This is a team growing through one of the toughest schedules in the country.

Postgame press conference with Coach Dawn

During the postgame press conference, I congratulated Coach Dawn on the win and asked her what she had admired about the stat sheet she had been studying when she sat down.

She repeated the word, “admired,” laughed, and started with what she did not admire which was the 17 turnovers.

Then she broke down what she did admire which included the rebounding dominance, the 16 for 20 free throws, the balanced shot distribution, and the way Okot “clouded the paint” and controlled USC’s drives. She also pointed to plus minus as the truth teller of Okot’s impact.

It was direct and sharp, exactly what you expect from Dawn Staley.

Leaders and numbers that told the truth

Final score: South Carolina 69, USC 52.

Rebounds: South Carolina 56, USC 32.

Field Goal Percentage: South Carolina 41 percent, USC 33 percent.

Three Point Percentage: South Carolina 40 percent, USC 7 percent.

Turnovers: South Carolina 17, USC 13.

South Carolina leader: Joyce Edwards with 17 points.

USC leader: Kennedy Smith with 12 points.

What it means going forward

South Carolina leaves Los Angeles with another resume win that reflects exactly who they are, a team that rebounds, defends, and imposes its identity. USC leaves with meaningful film and a reminder that their fight is real even when the offense is not cooperating.

Attendance was 8,150. The crowd was split, a mix of USC and South Carolina fans trading noise and claiming the same three letters while cheering for who they believed was the real SC.

Up next for USC

The Trojans return home on Tuesday, November 18 at 7:00 p.m. when they host Portland at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California.