No. 3 South Carolina women overwhelm No. 9 TCU 85-52
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Ashlyn Watkins had her third career dunk, MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 20 points and third-ranked South Carolina overwhelmed No. 9 TCU 85-52 on Sunday night.
Te-Hina Paopao and Raven Johnson each added 11 points, and Chloe Kitts had 12 rebounds for the Gamecocks (9-1).
Hailey Van Lith had 21 points and six assists for the Horned Frogs (9-1), who finished their first week ever as a top 10 team with a lopsided loss against the reigning national champion. They had their second 9-0 start since coach Mark Campbell’s arrival after going 8-23 the year before that.
Watkins now has a dunk in each of her three seasons with South Carolina.
The 6-foot-3 junior forward had a steal from Madison Conner past midcourt late in the first quarter, then went the other way and dunked with her right hand ahead of 6-7 Sedona Prince trying to catch up to defend the shot.
Notables
- With the 85-52 win, South Carolina handed No. 9 TCU their first loss of the season and their largest deficit faced in a game this year. It was the Gamecocks’ second top-10 win in as many games and third on the season.
- The Gamecocks’ defense had a showing, holding TCU to just nine points in the second and third quarter and scoring 30 points off turnovers.
- South Carolina’s defense held a ranked team to under 60 points for the third time this season. The Gamecocks’ five ranked opponents are averaging just 68.4 points.
- The South Carolina bench was relentless, scoring 50 points to the Horned Frogs’ game total of 52.
- Offensively, the Gamecocks were in command with 85 points their most against a ranked opponent this season, and their .574 field goal percentage was a season high.
- MiLaysia Fulwiley led the team in scoring for the third time this season, posting a team-high 20 points in 21 minutes on the floor, in addition to a team-high three steals and a block.
- Raven Johnson finished with a season-high 11 points, knocking down three 3s, including one late in the fourth quarter to give the Gamecocks their largest lead of the game at 38.
- Te-Hina Paopao finished in double digits for the sixth time this season, scoring seven of her 11 points in the second half with a three in the third quarter to cap a 12-5 run by the Gamecocks.
- Maddy McDaniel finished strong for the Gamecocks, scoring all eight of her points in the final quarter of the game all on successful free throw attempts.
- Ashlyn Watkins capitalized on a steal in the second quarter and threw down her third career dunk – her second on the road and first with a defender nearby.
