Horns’ Late Rally Falls Short in Heartbreaking SEC Championship Loss to Gamecocks

The SEC Women’s Basketball Championship, the Texas Longhorns suffered a disappointing defeat to the South Carolina Gamecocks, falling 64-45. The game was plagued by mistakes, as Texas committed 17 turnovers, shot just 29.6 percent from the field, and racked up 11 personal fouls—certainly a recipe for disaster.

At halftime, the Longhorns were already facing a 17-point deficit, having scored a mere 16 points—the fewest first-half points by the AP No. 1 team in the last decade. By the time the final buzzer sounded, South Carolina had cruised to victory.

This was a shocking performance from a team that had dominated most of their season, with the only blemish being an earlier loss to South Carolina. The Longhorns’ turnovers, lackluster defense, and a noticeable dip in energy allowed the Gamecocks to control both ends of the court with ease.

After the first quarter, Texas head coach Vic Schaefer emphasized the need to cut down on mistakes, something the team had improved upon during their semifinal win over LSU. However, they couldn’t correct enough issues to keep up with South Carolina’s consistent play.

While South Carolina wasn’t flawless, the Gamecocks had a noticeable advantage in rest, having played their semifinal game earlier on Saturday, and their experience in SEC Championship play seemed to make a difference. South Carolina shot 42.9 percent from the field and 23.1 percent from beyond the arc—more than doubling Texas’ three-point shooting efficiency.

Entering the tournament as the No. 2 seed despite being the No. 1 team in the nation (due to a coin toss), Texas had less rest between matchups, which appeared to take a toll on their performance. In contrast, South Carolina seemed to be the fresher team throughout the game.

While this loss likely won’t knock Texas out of a No. 1 seed for the upcoming March Madness, it almost certainly secures that spot for South Carolina. NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Selection Sunday is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on March 16.

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South Carolina’s Chloe Kitts Named SEC Player of the Week

In a standout performance on Monday, Chloe Kitts, forward for South Carolina women’s basketball, was named the SEC Player of the Week. This recognition follows her remarkable achievement of securing just the ninth triple-double in Gamecock history during a win against Ole Miss. Kitts then followed up with a dominant double-double against Kentucky, leading USC to victories in both games.

In her historic triple-double, Kitts recorded 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, with the 10 assists marking a career-high — doubling her previous best. Her 13 rebounds were just one shy of her personal best. This triple-double is the first for South Carolina since Aliyah Boston achieved the feat during the 2020-2021 season.

For the week, Kitts averaged 14.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game, helping to propel South Carolina to a share of the SEC regular season title. This marks the third consecutive year Kitts has been part of a team that has claimed the regular season championship.

Looking ahead, Kitts and the Gamecocks will head to Greenville, South Carolina, for the SEC Tournament. Thanks to a coin flip tiebreaker, USC will enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena and will have a double-bye, meaning their first game will be on Friday.

If they secure the SEC Tournament title, it would be the fourth consecutive championship for the program and likely solidify their spot as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Stay updated on South Carolina women’s basketball over at The Insiders Forum!