Three Gamecocks Score 20 in Win Over Winthrop

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Ta’Niya Latson scored 24 points, Madina Okot had 23 and Joyce Edwards 22 as No. 2/2 South Carolina started 5-0 for the fifth straight season with a 106-56 victory over Winthrop on Wednesday night.

Okot, the Mississippi State transfer, also had 11 rebounds for her third double-double of the season, and had three of South Carolina’s seven blocked shots.

The Gamecocks were coming off their best win of the season, a 69-52 beat down of No. 11 Southern Cal in Los Angeles this past Saturday and never let up against the Eagles (2-3) of the Big South Conference.

Winthrop once dominated South Carolina in the 1970s, winning 13 of the first 19 meetings when women’s hoops was in its collegiate infancy.

These Eagles, though, could not match up with Dawn Staley’s powerhouse program.

After Madison Ruff’s basket put Winthrop up 2-0, the Gamecocks took off on a 16-2 run that essentially put the game on ice.

And South Carolina barely missed in the opening two quarters. Latson made all seven of her shots, Okot hit all six attempts while Edwards finished 7-of-9 from the floor as the Gamecocks led 61-27 at the half.

The Gamecocks kept the pressure on in the second half and cruised to their seventh straight win over Winthrop.

Freshman Agot Makeer had 12 points while senior Raven Johnson had a game-high 10 assists.

South Carolina’s defense held Winthrop to 32% shooting, forced 15 turnovers and out-rebound the Eagles 46-24.

Mya Pierfax led the Eagles with 16 points.

GAMECOCK NOTABLES

• The Gamecocks had three players score 20 points for the first time since A’ja Wilson (23), Elem Ibiam (21) and Alaina Coates (20) did against Savannah State (Dec. 14, 2014). Ta’Niya Latson scored 24, Madina Okot had 23 and Joyce Edwards followed with 22 in the win. 
• Okot earned her third double-double of the season, scoring a season-high 23 points and grabbing 11 boards. She shot 83.3 percent (10-of-12) from the floor and was efficient on both sides of the ball with three assists and three blocks. 
• Latson led the team in scoring with 24 points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal in 25 minutes on the court. She had 20 points heading into the locker room at halftime on perfect 7-of-7 shooting. 
• Edwards notched 22 points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal. She surpassed 20 points for the second time this year, and she has scored in double digits in each game this season.
• Raven Johnson had double-digit assists for the second time this season, handing out 10 dimes tonight.
• Rookie Agot Makeer led the team coming off the bench, scoring in double digits for the second time this season. She netted 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out four assists. Makeer added two steals on the defensive end. 
• Carolina outscored Winthrop 70-20 in the paint, and held the Eagles to 32 percent (21-for-66) shooting from the field. 
• The Gamecocks surpassed the 100-point mark for the second time this season, and the 25th time in the Dawn Staley era.