South Carolina women's basketball: Tessa Johnson scored a career-high, but Ashlyn Watkins left with an injury in the rout of Mississippi State
South Carolina overcame a sluggish start to blow out Mississippi State 95-68. Tessa Johnson scored a career-high 22 points, but the big concern is the status of Ashlyn Watkins, who left the game in the second quarter with a left leg injury.
Early in the second quarter, Watkins drove to the basket and was fouled by Madina Okot. Watkins fell awkwardly, although initially, nothing looked unusual. But Watkins couldn’t get up on her own and eventually had to be helped off the court, dragging her left leg and putting no pressure on it.
Both teams got off to slow starts, but Mississippi State found a rhythm first. The Bulldogs were able to turn scramble plays into baskets while the Gamecocks missed almost everything, whether it was open threes or layups.
Mississippi State took its largest lead at 28-17 with 6:48 left in the second quarter. Chloe Kitts converted a three-point play and Tessa Johnson hit a three, and although the Bulldogs would stretch the lead back out to nine, the tide was starting to turn.
South Carolina outscored Mississippi State 19-2 over the final five minutes of the second quarter, including a 16-0 run to finish the half.
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Johnson and Paopao combined to hit five three-pointers during the run. Johnson was a perfect 3-3 from behind the arc during the run, including back-to-back threes to end the half.
Mississippi State committed four turnovers during the 16-0 run. South Carolina only got five points off those turnovers, but the turnovers meant the Bulldogs took seven fewer shots than the Gamecocks.
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The run continued into the third quarter. Eniya Russell made a pair of free throws to start the half, but then South Carolina scored the next 17 points. South Carolina held Mississippi State without a field goal for over 11 minutes.
Johnson had 22 points on 8-11 shooting and 4-6 from three. She only played 27 minutes.
Chloe Kitts had 17 points and 10 rebounds. It was her first double-double since the Duke game exactly a month ago. Paopao added 15 points, five assists, and four rebounds. Joyce Edwards also hit double figures with 10 points.
Raven Johnson had one of her best games of the season. She had nine points, five assists, five rebounds, and tied her career-high with five steals.
South Carolina got 41 points from its bench and 23 points off 20 Mississippi State turnovers.
Notes:
Maddy McDaniel and Sakima Walker were listed as out on the availability report. McDaniel has not played since the holiday break after suffering a concussion. Walker has not played since the Iowa State game and hasn’t been available since the TCU game with an ankle injury. … Jerkaila Jordan had 24 points for the Bulldogs, but only eight after they took that 11-point lead. … Former Gamecock ENiya Russell had 12 points and four rebounds, but also four turnovers. … Maryam Dauda and Adhel Tac got in for the final minutes of the game. Neither player scored but they combined for three rebounds. … After South Carolina’s garnet uniforms made a rare appearance at Missouri, the Gamecocks were back in black against Mississippi State. …Dawn Staley’s outfit: Staley wore a black hoodie. … South Carolina’s next game is Thursday against Texas A&M.
