South Carolina to Face Vanderbilt in SEC Tournament Rematch

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – No. 5 South Carolina is set to rematch Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament, following an impressive victory by the Commodores over No. 19 Tennessee.

Vanderbilt enters the matchup after a dramatic 84-76 win against Tennessee. Despite trailing by as many as 21 points, the Lady Volunteers rallied late in the game, cutting the lead to just seven with under a minute remaining. However, free throws secured the Commodores’ victory, with key contributions from Iyana Moore and Mikayla Blakes, who combined for 47 points.

In their previous encounter in February, South Carolina focused on neutralizing Blakes, the Commodores’ leading scorer. The freshman, known for her scoring prowess and multiple 50-point games, was held to 19 points while battling foul trouble throughout the game. Blakes shot 5 of 15 from the field and finished with four fouls.

“It’s crucial for us to maintain our defensive scheme against her,” said South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley. Players Raven Johnson and Bree Hall will need to be on high alert against Vanderbilt’s talented backcourt.

In that first matchup, South Carolina gained an advantage through rebounding and turnovers. The Gamecocks dominated the glass, out-rebounding Vanderbilt 47-35, including 20 offensive boards that translated into 17 second-chance points. Notably, Joyce Edwards was instrumental, recording 17 points and 10 offensive rebounds.

South Carolina also capitalized on turnovers, forcing the Commodores into 17 mistakes and scoring 23 points from these takeaways, while Vanderbilt only scored three points off of their 13 forced turnovers.

The Gamecocks’ SEC Tournament opener is scheduled for noon at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, and will be broadcast on ESPN. With Vanderbilt aiming for continued postseason momentum, the stakes are high for both teams.