Women's Basketball . December 7, 2025

Latson leads No. 3 South Carolina to win over NC Central

Box Score (PDF)

COLUMBIA, SC – Ta’Niya Latson scored a season-high 32 points and Joyce Edwards 25 as No. 3 South Carolina rolled past North Carolina Central 106-42 on Sunday.

Johnson had 20 points to lead the Gamecocks (9-1) to a 79-77 victory at Louisville this past Thursday, but came down with an illness and was held out. Okot, the 6-foot-6 Mississippi State transfer averaging 15 points and 11 rebounds, came off the floor midway through the second quarter and did not return.

The absences had South Carolina off balance early on and kept the Eagles (1-8) hanging around longer than some in the crowd expected.

North Carolina Central hit three of its first four shots to lead 7-4 before South Carolina got going behind Edwards to close the first quarter with a 22-7 run. Edwards had two three-point plays and 12 points during that stretch as the Gamecocks outscored North Carolina Central 22-10 in the paint to take control.

The Gamecocks came out with some fire after the break on both sides of the ball. Latson hit a pair of 3-pointers as South Carolina opened with a 25-0 run. The Eagles missed their first 12 shots of the period and ended up getting outscored 28-2.

South Carolina’s defense forced 36 turnovers and had 10 blocks against the Eagles.

South Carolina’s Okot came in leading the country with seven double-doubles. She was not on the bench when the team returned in the second half, coming out of the locker room midway through the third quarter. Okot finished with 10 points and a rebound shy of another double-double in 11 first-half minutes.

Gamecock Notables

South Carolina was active in the paint, outscoring NC Central 42-18 while being dominant on the fast break 38-12.
The 11 made 3s were the most for the Gamecocks this season.
All eight Gamecocks who hit the floor scored at least a bucket, with four finishing in double-figures.
South Carolina’s 27 made free throws tied a season high, while 16 steals were the most for the Gamecocks in a game this season.
Ta’Niya Latson led with 32 points, the most in her Gamecock career and the most for a player this season. It marked the 21st game in her career with 30+ points, and her 5-for-6 shooting beyond the arc is the fourth-best single-game percentage in program history (.833).
Joyce Edwards finished with her second double-double of the season, tying her season high of 25 points and 10 boards. Her team-leading six assists tied a career high, in addition to a career-high four steals.
Freshman Ayla McDowell netted a career-high 16 points, hitting five 3s along the matching Latson for the most for a Gamecock this season.
Madina Okot tallied a near double-double, netting 10 points with 9 boards, all while adding a block and steal in 11 minutes on the floor.
Raven Johnson was hot on defense, grabbing a team-high six steals for the most in a game for a Gamecock this season.