No. 3 South Carolina outlasts No. 22 Louisville in ACC/SEC Challenge

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Madina Okot had 23 points and 13 rebounds and No. 3 South Carolina outlasted No. 22 Louisville 79-77 on Thursday night in the ACC/SEC Challenge.

After losing a second-half lead a week ago against Texas in the Players Era Championship, the Gamecocks (8-1) found themselves in a fight against the Cardinals (7-3).

Okot, a 6-foot-6 senior, had 13 points and 10 rebounds in the second half. Her layup with 1:33 left put the Gamecocks up for good, 76-75.

Okot hit the first of two free throws with eight seconds left to put the Gamecocks up two. Louisville had a chance, but Tajianna Roberts missed a 3-pointer off the inbounds pass.

Okot grabbed that board as well and was fouled. She missed both free throws with two seconds remaining. Louisville’s Anaya Hardy could not grab the ball cleanly enough to get off a chance for a winning shot.

Tessa Johnson added 20 points for South Carolina, and Raven Johnson had 11 points and eight assists.

Roberts led Louisville with 20 points.

Gamecocks Notables

• The 79-77 victory over Louisville marked the Gamecocks’ 21st consecutive win over an ACC opponent.
• South Carolina improved to 2-1 against ranked opponents this season and 49-6 over the last five seasons.
• Seven of eight Gamecocks who hit the floor scored, with four finishing in double figures.
• Madina Okot led the way with her seventh double-double of the season, netting a season-high tying 23 points with 13 boards. Her final field goal gave the Gamecocks back the lead with 30 seconds to go, and her final free throw secured the win.
• Tessa Johnson had a dominant night, scoring a season-high 20 points with half coming in the first quarter alone, in addition to a career-high tying seven boards. Her four 3s on the night also tied a career-high for the junior.
• Joyce Edwards marked her ninth consecutive game this season finishing with 10+ points, putting up eight of her 12 in the first quarter and sinking her first career 3 in the third, all while grabbing a team high three steals along the way.
• Raven Johnson had a strong second quarter, netting seven of her 11 points, including a 3 to extend the Gamecocks’ lead by six, in addition to handing out a team-high 8 assists.