South Carolina crushed North Carolina 84-39 at the Ally Tip-Off in Charlotte on Sunday, a scoreline that underlined just how far apart the two programs are this season. The Gamecocks, ranked No. 1, dominated the No. 11 Tar Heels across every aspect of the game and left no doubt about their status as the team to beat in women’s college basketball.
Courtney Banghart, North Carolina’s head coach, was blunt after the game. “Let's be clear. There's a separation between South Carolina and everybody else right now,” she said. Banghart has scheduled the Gamecocks in non-conference play for years as a measuring stick. “We can kind of see the standard early and build to it,” she added.
South Carolina’s superiority was evident in the second and third quarters. They outscored North Carolina 19-7 in the second and 32-9 in the third, effectively blowing the game open. The Gamecocks used their size to control the paint, scoring 36 points there compared to just 14 for the Tar Heels. They grabbed 20 offensive rebounds, converting those into 25 second-chance points. On defense, South Carolina forced 24 turnovers, turning them into 38 points. In nearly every category, they looked bigger, faster, stronger, and more efficient.
Dawn Staley, South Carolina’s head coach, said the team is still developing. “I think we're a work in progress. You'll see us make jumps from game to game,” she said. “I was really, really proud of the group that finished the game. North Carolina never gave up, so it was a great opportunity for all of us to learn.”
Chloe Kitts returned to action after missing all of last season with a knee injury and showed why the Gamecocks need her. The former SEC Tournament MVP scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 28 minutes, shooting 7-of-12 from the floor. She also added two assists and a steal. Kitts tore the ACL in her right knee during a practice last October but said after the game that her body “feels good.”
“Just trying to get my confidence back,” Kitts said. “My team just gives me confidence every day, and I'm just super blessed to be back out there. I feel like I'm more relaxed than (before the injury) actually. I feel like the game has slowed down for me and I'm just trying to do whatever my team needs.”
Kitts remains one of three players from South Carolina’s 2024 national championship team still on the roster, along with Tessa Johnson and Ashlyn Watkins. Staley praised Kitts as a “glue player” who is unselfish and capable of delivering double-doubles. “Today was a good example of what she's capable of,” Staley said. “I think muscle memory will get her back to those times in which she can be counted on.”
At point guard, South Carolina is experimenting with several players after the offseason departure of Maddy McDaniel, who was expected to replace Raven Johnson. Dawn Staley is rotating Tessa Johnson, Jordan Lee, Brooke Quarles-Daniels, and Jerzy Robinson in the role. Robinson, a freshman from California’s Sierra Canyon High School and the sixth-ranked recruit in the 2026 class by ESPN, played 21 minutes and scored 10 points with two assists and two rebounds. Staley acknowledged that running point is not Robinson’s natural position but said the experience could help her growth. “We've asked her a daunting task of being the point guard for our team, which is out of position for her, really,” Staley said. “But she's done a great job. She's just embraced it.”
North Carolina’s standout freshman Kate Harpring was a focus for South Carolina’s defense. After big scoring performances in preseason and the season opener, Staley identified Harpring as the player to contain. The Gamecocks limited Harpring to eight points on 3-of-16 shooting and forced six turnovers. “They got an elite guard that is capable of getting a double-double every night,” Staley said. “We made a concerted effort to cut down Kate's vision and make it very difficult for her to catch the ball in spots where she could be effective.”
South Carolina’s win extended their early dominance in the season and reinforced their status as leaders in women’s college basketball. The Gamecocks, with Kitts back and a flexible approach to the point guard spot, continue to refine their game as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
According to Yahoo Sports.