COLUMBIA, S.C. (Interstat) — No. 1 South Carolina opened Southeastern Conference play with an emphatic 83-57 victory over Alabama on Thursday at Colonial Life Arena. The Gamecocks seized control with a 24-point first quarter and never relented, holding the Crimson Tide to 36.7% shooting. Joyce Edwards led South Carolina with 25 points, while Raven Johnson added 17 points and five assists. Diana Collins scored 17 for Alabama. South Carolina forced 14 turnovers and outscored Alabama 14-4 from the free-throw line. Both teams are now 14-1 overall.

Undefeated Alabama Women Set for Showdown at South Carolina COLUMBIA, S.C. (Interstat) — A marquee Southeastern Conference women’s basketball clash will open the new year as the undefeated and third-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide visit the second-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks on Thursday. The matchup at Colonial Life Arena pits two of the nation’s top teams in an early conference showdown. Alabama (14-0, 0-0 SEC) enters as one of only three remaining unbeaten teams in Division I, while South Carolina (13-1, 0-0) has reeled off nine straight wins since its lone loss to Texas in November. The Crimson Tide, led by standout guard Jessica Timmons, have dominated their non-conference schedule. Timmons is coming off a 23-point, 12-rebound performance in a 77-59 win over Troy on Dec. 21 and has averaged 17.3 points over her last six games. She is complemented by forwards Essence Cody and Karly Weathers, who combined for 31 points and 14 rebounds against Troy. South Carolina counters with a formidable frontcourt anchored by center Madina Okot. The sophomore has been dominant, posting double-doubles in three of her last four outings, including an 18-point, 13-rebound effort in a 96-55 rout of Providence on Dec. 28. In a recent three-game stretch, Okot averaged 19 points and 12.3 rebounds. The Gamecocks’ offense has been explosive, scoring over 100 points three times this season and winning their last five games by an average of 51.2 points. Their defense will face its toughest test yet against an efficient Alabama squad that has held opponents to 50.6 points per game. This contest marks the conference opener for both teams. Alabama’s perfect record will be severely tested on the road against the perennial powerhouse Gamecocks, who have not lost at home since February 2023. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. EST tipoff on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, at Colonial Life Arena. It will be televised on the SEC Network.