The top-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the No. 3 Southern Cal Trojans 89-85 on Sunday at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
The victory extended South Carolina’s perfect 6-0 record against the Trojans in a series often referred to as the battle for the “Real SC.”
Gamecocks forward Chloe Kitts solidified the team’s standing in the rivalry during her post-game press conference by stating, “Now you guys can stop saying who the real SC is, because we are.”
Senior guard Tessa Johnson led the offensive charge for the Gamecocks, finishing the matchup with a career-high 28 points.
The game remained competitive until the final seconds, with USC star JuJu Watkins attempting to rally her team back from a deficit.
A defensive play by Jordan Lee, who blocked a crucial shot from Watkins, proved to be a turning point in the final moments of the game.
The outcome was further influenced by a successful coaching challenge initiated by South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley.
After a block by Lee, the coaching staff utilized video review to confirm the ball went out of bounds off Watkins, allowing South Carolina to maintain possession.
Staley credited the decision to her video coordinator’s wife, noting, “He really made the call. It was truly the play of the game.”
Watkins finished the contest with 25 points for the Trojans, while teammates Saniyah Hall and Jazzy Davidson contributed 17 and 14 points respectively.
The Trojans coach, Lindsay Gottlieb, expressed frustration regarding the officiating review process late in the game.
Despite the disagreement, the result stood, leaving the Gamecocks with an early-season victory over a top-five opponent.
Both teams continue their respective seasons with aspirations of securing high seeds for upcoming tournament play.
While no future regular-season games are currently scheduled between the two programs, the intense matchup demonstrated the growing rivalry between the schools.
The Gamecocks now look forward to building on this momentum as they pursue a seventh consecutive Final Four appearance.