Okot leads the way as No. 3 South Carolina claims fifth straight SEC title

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Madina Okot had 26 points and 17 rebounds, Joyce Edwards added 23 points and No. 3 South Carolina clinched its fifth straight Southeastern Conference regular-season title with a 112-71 victory over Missouri on Thursday night.

The Gamecocks (28-2, 14-1) have been the dominant program the past five years in a league with five teams currently in the top 10. South Carolina is 76-3 against the SEC in its run and will look to add a fourth straight league tournament crown when the event begins in Greenville, South Carolina, next week.

There was little celebration in their last win over Mississippi on Sunday even though South Carolina had guaranteed itself no worse than a share of the title.

This time, there were plenty of smiles and dancing as the team was awarded its latest trophy at midcourt following the win.

Missouri owns one of those South Carolina losses in that stretch, but these Tigers had little chance of holding up against South Carolina’s deep and talented front line.

Okot, the Mississippi State transfer, had 12 points and seven rebounds as South Carolina led 33-13 after the first quarter. Edwards, averaging team-best 20.1 points, made seven of 12 shots for 17 points as the Gamecocks led 57-32 at the break.

And that was without the Gamecocks best outside shooter, starter Tessa Johnson, on bench with the team called an upper-body injury.

Ta’Niya Latson had 17 points and Raven Johnson 16 for the Gamecocks as both were honored on Senior Night.

South Carolina won its ninth in a row since its lone SEC loss this season at Oklahoma on Jan. 22.

Grace Slaughter had 21 points to lead Missouri, which lost its season-worst fifth straight.

GAMECOCK NOTABLES

• With tonight’s win, South Carolina finishes the 2025-26 regular season 16-0 at home, the seventh time in program history the Gamecocks finished undefeated on their home court and the fifth time in the last seven seasons.
• The team set the program record for most points scored in an SEC game (112), breaking the previous record of 106 set against Vanderbilt (1/14/2021).
• South Carolina had 57 points heading into the half, its most against an SEC opponent this season since scoring 55 against Vanderbilt.
• All nine Gamecocks who hit the floor tonight registered at least a bucket, with four finishing in double digits.
• Madina Okot recorded her 19th double-double of the season and her sixth consecutive, tallying a staggering 26 points and 17 rebounds.
• Raven Johnson set her career-high for most threes made in a game with four, netting 16 points along the way, just shy of her career high. Johnson grabbed an additional five rebounds and dished out five assists.
• Joyce Edwards finished with at least 20 points for the 18th time this season, registering 23 to go with four rebounds and two assists.
• Ta’Niya Latson dished out her SEC career high in assists, recording seven on the night, finishing with 17 points.
• Maddy McDaniel had a career night, finishing with nine points while tying highs in made threes (2) and steals (4).