COLUMBIA, S.C. (Interstat) — No. 1 South Carolina survived a late challenge from Texas for a 68-65 women’s basketball victory Thursday night at Colonial Life Arena. The Gamecocks improved to 18-1 overall and in the Southeastern Conference by overcoming a strong start from the Longhorns, who led 20-13 after the first quarter. South Carolina rallied to take a 32-32 halftime tie and a narrow lead into the fourth quarter. Madison Booker led all scorers with 24 points for Texas, which fell to 18-2. Rori Harmon added 16 points. South Carolina’s balanced attack featured 14 points from Joyce Edwards and 13 from Tessa Johnson. Raven Johnson contributed 10 points and six assists. A crowd of 17,188 watched the Gamecocks secure the win at the free-throw line in the final seconds.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Interstat) — In a tense, physical rematch of a thriller from November, the South Carolina Gamecocks exacted a measure of revenge, edging the Texas Longhorns 68-65 in a pivotal Southeastern Conference women’s basketball clash on Thursday night before a raucous crowd of 17,188 at Colonial Life Arena. The victory, sealed by a final defensive stand and clutch free throws from Joyce Edwards in the waning seconds, avenged South Carolina’s only loss of the season, a 66-64 defeat in Austin on Nov. 27. It improved the Gamecocks to 18-1 overall, while the Longhorns, who entered on a 10-game winning streak, fell to 18-2. The game’s defining sequence, and its most important part, unfolded in the final 30 seconds with South Carolina clinging to a 66-65 lead. After a Texas timeout with 23 seconds remaining, Raven Johnson sank a critical pull-up jump shot to extend the Gamecock lead to three. Texas star Madison Booker answered immediately with a tough jumper of her own, cutting the deficit back to one with 19 seconds on the clock. Following a South Carolina timeout, the Gamecocks inbounded to Madina Okot, who was fouled. The 6-foot-6 center from Kenya made the first free throw but missed the second, leaving the door open for Texas, down 67-65 with 18 seconds left. The Longhorns advanced the ball and called their final timeout to set up a play. Out of the break, Booker’s potential game-tying 3-point attempt from the wing rimmed out. Joyce Edwards secured the defensive rebound and was fouled with 10 seconds remaining. Edwards, a Camden, S.C., native, calmly sank the first free throw to create a three-point cushion. She intentionally missed the second, and after a scramble, Texas guard Rori Harmon was fouled on a desperate heave with just 0.7 seconds left. Harmon made the first free throw but, needing to miss the second intentionally, had her attempt ruled a violation, ending the game and setting off a celebration for the home team. The contest was a defensive struggle marked by turnovers and missed opportunities. Both teams combined for 39 turnovers, with Texas committing 19 and South Carolina 20. Offensive efficiency was hard to come by, as Texas posted an offensive rating of 88.8 on 73 possessions and South Carolina managed an 89.1 rating on 76 trips. Texas controlled the early stages, building a 20-13 lead after the first quarter behind the scoring of Booker and Harmon. South Carolina responded with a 19-point second quarter, fueled by its defense and balanced attack, to take a 32-32 tie into halftime. The third quarter was a grind, with South Carolina outscoring Texas 16-17 to maintain a slim 48-49 edge heading into the final frame. The fourth quarter saw six lead changes as neither team could gain separation. Key plays down the stretch included a Raven Johnson block on a Booker layup attempt with just over five minutes left and a crucial 3-pointer from Madina Okot that gave South Carolina a 61-57 lead with 3:32 remaining. Booker, a 6-foot-1 sophomore from Ridgeland, Mississippi, was spectacular in defeat, leading all scorers with 24 points on 11-of-26 shooting while adding three assists and two steals in 39 minutes. Harmon, the Houston native, added 16 points and five assists. Jordan Lee contributed 10 points for the Longhorns, who shot a solid 43.3% from the field but were crippled by a 1-for-9 performance from beyond the arc. South Carolina’s victory was a product of its depth and defensive resilience. Edwards led the Gamecocks with 14 points, including the decisive free throws, and added two blocks. Tessa Johnson provided a critical spark with 13 points, hitting three of her team’s four 3-pointers. Raven Johnson orchestrated the offense with 10 points and six assists, while Ta’Niya Latson and Okot each chipped in 10 points. Okot also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. The Gamecocks overcame poor free-throw shooting, making just 18 of 26 attempts, by holding Texas to its second-lowest point total of the season. South Carolina also won the battle on the glass, outrebounding Texas 36-31. The result solidified South Carolina’s position atop the SEC standings and handed Texas its first conference loss. Both teams are expected to remain among the nation’s elite as the season progresses. Texas returns home to face Texas A&M on Sunday, while South Carolina travels to face Coppin State.

Preview: Texas Faces South Carolina in SEC Showdown COLUMBIA, S.C. (Interstat) — A marquee Southeastern Conference women’s basketball clash with national championship implications is set for Thursday when the Texas Longhorns visit the South Carolina Gamecocks. The matchup at Colonial Life Arena features two of the nation’s top teams, with Texas at 18-1 and South Carolina at 17-1. Both teams enter with identical 6-1 records in SEC play, making this a pivotal contest for conference standings. Texas, whose only loss came 65-70 at LSU on Jan. 11, looks to rebound on the road. The Longhorns are led by center Kyla Oldacre, who is coming off a dominant 16-point, 16-rebound performance in that defeat. Over her last seven games, Oldacre is averaging 13.4 points and 6.7 rebounds, providing a critical interior presence. South Carolina has won seven straight since its sole loss — a 64-66 defeat to these same Longhorns in Austin on Nov. 27. The Gamecocks’ defense has been stifling, holding opponents to an average of 48.2 points during their win streak. They are anchored by center Madina Okot, who has recorded four double-doubles in her last six games, averaging 14.8 points and 12.0 rebounds over that span. The November meeting saw Texas edge South Carolina in a tight battle. The Longhorns will need another strong performance from Oldacre and guard Madison Booker, who scored 24 points against LSU, to counter South Carolina’s formidable frontcourt and home-court advantage. South Carolina seeks revenge and aims to protect its home floor, where it has been dominant this season. The duel between Oldacre and Okot in the paint will be a key factor, as both players are essential to their teams’ offensive and defensive schemes. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.