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No. 2 South Carolina women beat No. 4 Texas 68-65 to avenge only loss

No. 2 South Carolina women beat No. 4 Texas 68-65 to avenge only loss | iNFOnews.ca
South Carolina guard Tessa Johnson celebrates in the closing seconds of the second half as her team beats Texas in an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Joyce Edwards had 14 points and eight rebounds, Tessa Johnson added 13 points and No. 2 South Carolina avenged its only loss this season by beating No. 4 Texas 68-65 on Thursday night for its 11th straight victory.

Ta’Niya Latson scored 12 points and Raven Johnson came up with some big shots down the stretch, scoring six of her 10 points in the pivotal fourth quarter for the Gamecocks (18-1, 5-0 Southeastern Conference).

Madison Booker had 24 points and Rori Harmon added 16 to lead Texas (18-2, 3-2), which finished 1 of 9 from 3-point range.

Texas handed South Carolina its only loss on Nov. 27 in the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas — considered a nonconference game — when Harmon made a 10-foot floater with a second left.

But the Gamecocks made sure not to let this one get away.

Edwards drove and drew a foul for a three-point play that gave South Carolina a 58-57 lead with 4:12 remaining. Madina Okot followed with a clutch 3 — only her third all season — to give the Gamecocks the biggest lead of the game at that point.

Johnson later wiggled free in the low post for a layup to push the lead to five with 1:07 to play.

Booker scored on a putback, but Johnson hit a short jumper with 23 seconds left to increase the lead to five again.

Alicia Tournebize of France made her South Carolina debut, receiving a huge ovation when she checked into the game in the first quarter. The 6-foot-7 Tournebize was a midseason acquisition after playing professionally for Tango Bourges Basket, a professional team in France’s top league.

Tournebize played five minutes and did not score.

Up next

Texas hosts Texas A&M on Sunday.

South Carolina visits Coppin State on Sunday.

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Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

No. 2 South Carolina women beat No. 4 Texas 68-65 to avenge only loss | iNFOnews.ca
South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel, right, drives against Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
No. 2 South Carolina women beat No. 4 Texas 68-65 to avenge only loss | iNFOnews.ca
South Carolina guard Raven Johnson (25) shoots over Texas forward Justice Carlton (11) as center Kyla Oldacre (00) and forward Madison Booker (35) look on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
No. 2 South Carolina women beat No. 4 Texas 68-65 to avenge only loss | iNFOnews.ca
Texas guard Jordan Lee (7) battles South Carolina guard Raven Johnson for the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
No. 2 South Carolina women beat No. 4 Texas 68-65 to avenge only loss | iNFOnews.ca
South Carolina forward Adhel Tac (15) shoots against Texas center Kyla Oldacre (00) and forward Teya Sidberry, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbia, S.C., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
No. 2 South Carolina women beat No. 4 Texas 68-65 to avenge only loss | iNFOnews.ca
Texas head coach Vic Schaefer yells during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

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