Gamecocks Finish Semester Strong with Win at FGCU

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Joyce Edwards had 29 points, Madina Okot scored 27 and No. 3 South Carolina overpowered Florida Gulf Coast 105-43 on Saturday.

Edwards had 10 rebounds and Okot 12 as the Gamecocks’ wrapped up a two-game road trip to Florida. They won at South Florida 103-44 on Thursday.

The Gamecocks (12-1) have won by at least 40 points in eight games this season.

Ta’Niya Latson added 15 points and Maryam Dauda 12.

FGCU (3-6) made its first three field goals — all 3-pointers — to take an early 9-5 lead. South Carolina responded with a 15-0 run.

The Gamecocks led 20-11 at the end of the first quarter. Spurts of 12-2 and 13-3 gave the Gamecocks a 53-21 lead at halftime. They led 79-31 after three quarters.

South Carolina not only shot 63% from the field, but also had a 51-18 margin in rebounds and 74-10 advantage in points in the paint.

Gamecock Notables

• South Carolina’s 62.5 percent field goal shooting marked the fifth game this season the Gamecocks shot over 60.0 percent.
• All nine available Gamecocks got on the board, with four finishing in double-digit scoring.
• The Gamecocks were nearly unstoppable in the paint, outscoring the Eagles 74-10 to tie for the most points in the paint in program history (prev. 74 at South Florida, 12/18/25, and vs. College of Charleston, 11/24/20).
• South Carolina was dominant on the glass, grabbing 51 boards to the Eagles’ 18, while also capitalizing on points off FGCU’s 20 turnovers, 34-3.
• Joyce Edwards led the way with 29 points and 10 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. It marked the fourth consecutive game in a row with 25+ points for Edwards, the most for a Gamecock since Shannon Johnson recorded five during the 1995-96 season (11/29-12/10).
• Madina Okot finished with a new career-high of 27 points, adding 12 boards for her ninth double-double of the season. Thirteen of her points came in the fourth quarter after finishing out the game on her own 7-0 run, with the first 3 of her career to cap scoring for the Gamecocks.
• Ta’Niya Latson netted 15 points for her 12th game of the season with 10 or more, also dishing out a team-high seven assists to lead the team for the third time this season.
• Maryam Dauda posted a season-high of 12 points, scoring eight in the fourth quarter with two made threes, the most for Dauda in a game this season.

It was South Carolina’s final game before the holiday break. The Gamecocks are back in action at home on Sun., Dec. 28, hosting Providence in a noon tipoff at Colonial Life Arena. They then open SEC action on Thu., Jan. 1, against No. -/24 Alabama.