Tennessee Stumbles in Showdown with South Carolina

Tonight’s game was a fierce battle for the Carolina’s, as they took an impressive 70-63 victory. Talaysia Cooper gave her all for Tennessee, pushing the team relentlessly. However, Tennessee's fast-paced play and ability to run the court made them attack their opponent. They challenged South Carolina at every turn, holding their ground and showcasing a competitive spirit. Defense and ball control were the focus for both teams, with a standout performance on both sides. Samara Spencer led Tennessee with eight points, six assists, and four rebounds, including a series of key three-pointers. The first quarter saw Tennessee putting significant pressure on Carolina, taking an early lead as the Gamecocks struggled to put points on the board. Ruby Whitehorn stepped up for Tennessee, seeking out opportunities to maintain their advantage. Despite South Carolina's 17 turnovers compared to Tennessee's 13, freshman Joyce Edwards made a significant impact, leading with 18 points, and keeping her team together on the court. Tennessee dominated the boards, rebounding South Carolina throughout the game. They opened the first quarter with a nine-point lead and maintained control, ultimately securing a well-fought victory. 

Whitehorn and Cooper were the standout players in tonight’s game, with Cooper contributing 11 points while Whitehorn added 12. Both played a significant impact, with Whitehorn also excelling in rebounding, securing five. The South Carolina team, including starters and bench players, worked hard to deliver 14 assists throughout the game. Their teamwork allowed them to reclaim the lead as the game progressed. Raven Johnson was South Carolina’s best rebounder, attacking every play with determination to secure the ball. Both teams recorded 16 personal fouls, but Tennessee had a higher percentage on their free-throw opportunities, which gave the team an edge early on as South Carolina struggled with foul trouble. Tennessee’s defense and offense remained sharp, utilizing fastbreaks to their advantage. South Carolina’s three-point shooting wasn’t as consistent as in previous games, but they managed to outpace Tennessee in blocks, finishing with six compared to Tennessee’s four. Despite their efforts, if Tennessee had more time on the clock, they could have tied the game out or even secured a possibility of a victory against South Carolina

Furthermore, this was a good match up and these two teams will play against each other again soon. Tennessee will learn from and come back with another approach for South Carolina. Tennessee did play a hard game against South Carolina. Tennessee was able to not give up on any shot they were putting up on the board. South Carolina was able to take control of this game and keep up the past throughout each quarter. In this game, Sania Feagin was patient throughout this game by putting pressure on her opponents. A lot has changed for South Carolina since that loss against UCLA that changed their atmosphere. Tennessee made sure they played until the time ran out and they didn't go out without a fight. The following game South Carolina will match up against Auburn on February 2nd while Tennessee takes on Missouri as well on February 2nd.