Women's Basketball . January 1, 2026

No. 3 South Carolina wins 24th straight over Alabama

Game #1

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Joyce Edwards scored 25 points and No. 3 South Carolina won its 24th straight game over previously undefeated Alabama 83-57 on Thursday to start Southeastern Conference play.

Raven Johnson added 17 points for the Gamecocks (14-1, 1-0 SEC), who played without injured Ta’Niya Latson, who is second on the team with a 16.9-point average.

South Carolina built a double-digit lead late in the first half and, after the Crimson Tide (14-1, 0-1) cut it to 40-34 at halftime, used a 23-10 run in the third quarter to take control for good.

It was another outing in which the Gamecocks were less than full strength. Latson sprained her left ankle in Sunday’s win over Providence and did not play. The absence did not seem to affect South Carolina much, as it took a 40-26 lead with 2:18 to go before halftime.

But the Crimson Tide scored the final eight points off 3-pointers by Timmons and Collins to trim the deficit to six points.

Collins led Alabama with 17 points.

There may be some relief on the way; Alicia Tournebize signed with South Carolina last month and is eligible to play this semester. Gamecock coach Dawn Staley said the 6-foot-7 Tournebize is still completing her visa and enrollment process but could be available for Sunday’s game at Florida.

Notables

The Gamecocks spread the love, with eight of nine players getting on the board and four finishing in double-figures.
South Carolina continued to be dominant in the paint, outscoring the Tide 40-18.
The win over Alabama marked the 24th consecutive victory for the Gamecocks over the Tide, moving the series to 24-0 during the Dawn Staley era.
Raven Johnson had a strong outing, finishing with a new season high of 17 points, scoring 11 of them in the opening quarter. Her five assists officially moved her to No. 6 all-time in program history for career assists (499).
Joyce Edwards tallied 25 points, marking her fifth game this season with 25 or more, and the ninth time she has scored 20 or more.
Madina Okot netted a near double-double, finishing with 11 points and nine boards.
Tessa Johnson had her 11th game of the season with double figures, adding two 3s to her 10 points and dishing out a team-high five assists to lead the team for the third time this season.
Freshman Agot Makeer earned her first career start in Latson’s absence, adding an efficient nine points (3-of-4 FGs) and four rebounds to a solid defensive effort.