Gamecocks Take No. 3 Ranking to Arkansas Thursday

Gamecock Notables

• Defense has always been paramount for South Carolina’s success, and this season is no different. The Gamecocks are fifth in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.321) and 16th in scoring defense (53.9 ppg).

• The Gamecocks are rebounding 43.3 percent of their own missed shots this season, which ranks eighth in the nation. In SEC action, they are pulling down 40.5 percent of their misses. Madina Okot’s 4.2 offensive rebounds per game are 15th-best in the nation and include an SEC-best 7.0 average in league play.

• South Carolina’s .527 field goal percentage ranks second in the nation this season, and the Gamecocks are most efficient at the start and end of games, shooting 55.9 percent in the first quarter and 54.2 percent in the fourth.

• With 45.7 rebounds per game, the Gamecocks rank seventh in the nation. Their +14.4 rebounding margin is fifth. In SEC action, South Carolina is second in both categories with 51.0 rebounds per game and a +18.5 margin.

• Senior point guard Raven Johnson has been thriving in SEC action averaging 17.0 points (13th) on 52.4 percent shooting (6th), including 40.0 percent from 3-point range. Even with her own offense surging, she is tied for the team lead with 3.5 assists per league game as well. For the season, she is putting up career numbers with 10.0 points per game on 50.4 percent shooting overall and 39.0 percent from the arc.

• South Carolina’s starting frontcourt is as formidable as any in the country with Madina Okot and Joyce Edwards ranking 11th and 12th in the nation (1st and 2nd in the SEC), respectively, in field goal percentage. Edwards’ team-high 21.0 points per game rank 12th in the nation, and Okot’s 11.5 rebounds per game are seventh.

• Tessa Johnson is looking every bit the veteran she is in her junior season, posting career-best offensive numbers with rock-steady performances. Her SEC-best 45.0 percent field goal shooting is just part of her 49.0 percent accuracy overall, which ranks 13th in the SEC. In addition to her 13.4 points per game, she is handing out a career-best 2.9 assists per game.

• Sophomore Maddy McDaniel has been effective in extended minutes in the first week of SEC play, averaging 29.6 minutes per game and producing 6.0 points and 3.5 assists (13th) per outing last week. Her 2.33 assist-to-turnover ratio in league play ranks sixth in the SEC.

By the Numbers
5 – Five games this season have had two Gamecocks recording double-doubles with Madina Okot as one of them each time.

6 – Raven Johnson needs six assists to tie for fifth place in program history in career assists.

6.6 – The Gamecocks’ 6.6 blocks per game rank fifth in the nation and include an SEC-best 6.5 in conference play.

The Arkansas Series
The Gamecocks lead the all-time series with Arkansas 28-18 behind a 21-4 mark in the Dawn Staley era (beginning in 2008-09). The series is tied 10-10 in games played in Fayetteville.

South Carolina has won the last 10 meetings, including last season’s 95-55 decision on Feb. 20, 2025, in Columbia.  The Gamecocks’ last trip to Fayetteville was on Feb. 29, 2024, when they claimed a 98-61 victory that included 12 points from then-freshman Tessa Johnson on 4-of-5 shooting from 3-point range.

Fast Forward
The Gamecocks have been on the move this season, ranking second in the nation with 25.2 fast break points per game. For context, the program record of 18.0 fast break points per game was set in 2023-24, and last season’s average was 17.1.

South Carolina’s season-high of 56 fast break points against Queens (Nov. 23) were the third-most in program history. The Gamecocks are out-scoring opponents on the break by 18.2 points per game (25.2-7.0).