Markeshia's Corner: Gamecocks look to advance to SEC Final vs. Oklahoma today

🏀🔥 Markeshia Grant, who played two seasons for Dawn Staley, provides GamecockCentral readers with analysis of South Carolina women’s basketball. Don’t miss her unique insights and expert takes; sign up for the GamecocksW newsletter. 🔥🏀

---

South Carolina came out hot, dominating the first half with a 48-23 lead. Vanderbilt punched back in the second half outscoring the Gamecocks 24 to 13 in the third quarter. However, the Gamecocks finished strong to reach their sixth straight SEC Tournament semifinals game, fueled by Chloe Kitts’ career-high 25 points and 10 boards, plus MiLaysia Fulwiley’s smooth, electrifying playmaking.

Keep up with all things Gamecocks for just $1 for 7 days—lock in this special offer today!

Gamecock game highlights:

South Carolina had four players in double figures, shot 54.7% from the floor, had 17 assists, dominated the paint with 58 points, won the rebound battle 42-28, and had 12 steals. The bench showed up with 33 points—and MiLaysia Fulwiley put on a show with highlight after highlight, making the tough plays look so easy.

Standout Performances

Chloe Kitts – Versatility at its Best

Chloe went off for a career-high 25 points on an efficient 12-of-14 (85%) shooting, adding 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals for her third straight double-double. From crashing the boards and finishing put-backs to hitting defenders with a smooth between-the-legs dribble into a mid-range jumper, and slicing through traffic for a floater—her versatility was on full display.

Sania Feagin – The Anchor

Sania had herself a day adding 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting (75%), 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks. From timely rebounds and put-backs—to always being in the right place at the right time to get defensive stops. 

Te-Hina Paopao – The Steady Veteran 

Paopao provided the steady presence South Carolina needed down the stretch, finishing with 8 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds to help close out the win.

Bench Production – Seatbelt Gang

The Gamecocks’ Seatbelt Gang locked in and delivered 33 points, 13 rebounds, 7 steals, and 5 assists off the bench.

• MiLaysia Fulwiley – 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 AST.
• Joyce Edwards – 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals.
• Tessa Johnson added 4 points
• Maryam Dauda – 2 points and 2 rebounds.

MiLaysia Fulwiley – The X-Factor

1. With about four seconds left in the first quarter Lay had a crucial steal and hit transition 3 right before the buzzer.
2. Lay giving up that wide-open breakaway layup for Chloe, being aware that she was having a career day, was one of the most selfless plays I’ve seen this season. 
3. With 1:47 on the clock, Lay catches the inbound pass from Paopao, drives past her defender, and delivers a smooth behind-the-back assist to Sania for the score.

Up Next: South Carolina Gamecocks 28-3 vs. Oklahoma Sooners 25-6 

Key matchups to watch:

Guard Play vs. Peyton Verhulst

• Peyton is Oklahoma’s sharpshooter who has big capabilities. However, the last time the Gamecocks held her to just 3 points on 1-of-6 shooting. Gamecock guards will need to deny her on every catch, make her think about something other than scoring, and run her off the 3-point line. 

Post Play vs. Raegan Beers

• Raegan is Oklahoma’s Anchor. She leads the team in points at 17.8 and in rebounds at 9 RPG. South Carolina’s post players will need to make it hard for her to establish deep position. They’ll need to stay aware of her off-hand, which she uses to shield defenders when trying to score around the rim. On the other end, being aggressive and attacking her feet can draw fouls, as she is very foul-prone.

Also, expect Sahara Williams to be more aggressive this game as she did not do well the first time against South Carolina—she was 0-8 and did not score. 

Guard Advantages

• South Carolina rolls with a six-player guard rotation, with each guard bringing a unique dynamic both offensively and defensively.

Post Advantages

• The Gamecocks have strong post depth, with Kitts and Feagin starting, and Edwards, Dauda, Walker, and Tac providing valuable, impactful minutes off the bench.

Gamecocks Advantage

South Carolina’s depth, defensive intensity, rebounding ability, and speed give them the edge.

Get the inside scoop on all things Gamecocks for just $1 for 7 days—lock in this special offer!

Keys to the Win

1. Keep the main thing, the main thing – Stay focused and control the pace of the game. 
2. Set the tone early – HIT FIRST and keeping the momentum going. 
3. Lock in on defense – The Gamecocks’ stifling man-to-man defense holds teams more than 20+ points below their season average so they will need to continue to lock into the scout. 
4. Bench production – South Carolina’s Seatbelt Gang has been dominating, leading the nation in bench points per game. Their depth will be crucial in this matchup.
5. Win the rebounding battle – When the gamecocks win the rebounding battle, they normally win the game. WIN THE PAINT
6. Take care of the ball – Lost time out the Gamecocks had 17 assists, so sharing the ball and ball movement will be key in this matchup.
7. Force turnovers – South Carolina forces approximately  17 TOs per game, while Oklahoma averages 19 TOs per game.
8. Convert at the free-throw line – South Carolina will get to the line, so they just need to stay focused and capitalize on those opportunities.
9. Play hard, play smart, play disciplined, play and act like champions!
10. Have fun!

Let’s Go Gamecocks!

---

🏀🔥 Markeshia Grant, who played two seasons for Dawn Staley, provides GamecockCentral readers with analysis of South Carolina women’s basketball. Don’t miss her unique insights and expert takes; sign up for the GamecocksW newsletter. 🔥🏀

Discuss South Carolina women’s basketball on The Insiders Forum!