Sophomore Tessa Johnson led the charge for USC with a career-high 22 points, while junior Chloe Kitts chipped in with a double-double of 17 points and 10 boards. Senior Te-Hina Paopao had 15 points, five assists and four rebounds.

No. 2 South Carolina largely controlled its SEC opener against Missouri, overcoming a few early challenges en route to a dominant 83-49 road win Thursday night. The Gamecocks women’s basketball team has now won eight games in a row following a Nov. 24 loss at No. 1 UCLA, which snapped a 43-game winning streak.

South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley addressed her team turning up the intensity in the wake of Ashlyn Watkins' concerning injury.

South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins left Saturday’s road game against No. 17 Mississippi State in the second quarter after coming down awkwardly on her knee during a layup attempt. USC radio play-by-play broadcaster Brad Muller said Watkins will not return for the second half.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — No. 17 Mississippi State wins against South Carolina 85-50 in Saturday’s SEC opener. Josh Hubbard scored 21 points, and Claudell Harris added 17. The Bulldogs (13-1) opened with a 15-2 run and led 43-18 at halftime. Zachary Davis scored a career-high 22 points for South Carolina (10-4).