Statement Win: No. 2 South Carolina Routs No. 5 Vanderbilt, Ends Unbeaten Streak

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COLUMBIA, SC — Following a rare and frustrating overtime loss to Oklahoma just days ago, No. 2 South Carolina delivered a thunderous response on Sunday afternoon. In a highly anticipated top-five clash, the Gamecocks dismantled No. 5 Vanderbilt 103–74, handing the Commodores their first loss of the season and snapping their program-record 20-game winning streak.

The victory was historic: South Carolina became the first team to score 100+ points against an AP Top 5 opponent since 2023, and the 29-point margin was the largest ever recorded over a top-five team in the poll era.

The Gamecock Blitz

South Carolina (20-2, 6-1 SEC) left no doubt from the opening tip, utilizing an 11–2 burst in the first two minutes to stun the previously perfect Commodores.

The First Quarter Dominance: The Gamecocks hung 33 points in the opening frame—their highest single-quarter output of the season—to build a 17-point lead.
Point in the Paint: South Carolina physically overwhelmed Vanderbilt inside, outscoring them 56–24 in the paint.
Defensive Pressure: Known for their discipline, Vanderbilt was uncharacteristically rattled, committing 16 turnovers in the first half alone against the suffocating Gamecock defense.

Key Performers

Five Gamecocks finished in double figures as head coach Dawn Staley utilized her deep rotation to keep the pressure high for 40 minutes.

Ta’Niya Latson: Led the charge with 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Tessa Johnson: Provided the perimeter spark, finishing with 20 points on 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc.
Madina Okot: Anchored the interior with 17 points, dominating the boards against Vanderbilt’s frontline.
Joyce Edwards: The standout freshman added 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, showing her versatility on both ends.
Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt HC: “Credit to South Carolina, I thought they played maybe the best they’ve played all season. We turned the ball over 16 times in the first half, which makes it hard to win a game like that. We can learn a ton from this.”

Vanderbilt’s Gallant Rally Falls Short

Despite the blowout, the Commodores showed why they were 20–0 entering the day. Led by the SEC’s leading scorer Mikayla Blakes (23 points), Vanderbilt used a 15–5 run late in the second quarter to cut a 21-point deficit down to 11 at the half.
Vanderbilt opened the third quarter with back-to-back buckets to get within seven (55–48), momentarily silencing the sellout crowd of 17,002. However, South Carolina responded with a ruthless 15–2 run to put the game out of reach for good.

SEC Landscape & What’s Next

This win marks South Carolina’s 19th consecutive victory over Vanderbilt, a streak that spans the entire Dawn Staley era. With both teams now sitting at 6–1 in SEC play, the race for the conference regular-season title has become a three-way dead heat between South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and LSU.
South Carolina: Travels to face Auburn on Thursday, January 29.
Vanderbilt: Looks to start a new streak on the road at No. 18 Ole Miss this Thursday.