Joyce Edwards and the South Carolina Gamecocks faced the Oklahoma Sooners in the Sweet 16 matchup today. Heading into the game, the Gamecocks were heavy favorites to win against Oklahoma.
It didn’t take long for Edwards and Co. to prove why they had the odds in their favor. South Carolina had a 47-28 lead at halftime, and they ended up comfortably finishing the game, 94-68, bringing the Sooners’ campaign to an end.
After the win, Edwards talked about Oklahoma’s plan for the game and how they were able to execute it. However, they didn’t have backup plans for other players whom they couldn’t control, which led to them losing the game.
“They tried to take me & Madina away & they kinda did. But we’re not no one-man wrecking crew. It’s not just me & Madina on this team. You have to guard everybody, and they didn’t guard everybody,” she said.
Edwards said that Raven Johnson and Ta’Niya Latson took full advantage of the opportunities. Madina Okot and Joyce Edwards added nine and eight points, respectively. Okot dominated once again on the board with 12 rebounds.
Edwards held her own on defense and playmaking, grabbing nine rebounds, four assists, and four steals. The players who gave Oklahoma the most problems were Raven Johnson, shooting 8 of 11 from the field for 18 points, and Latson, shooting 7 of 11 from the field for 28 points.
The Gamecocks have once again made it to the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament. They will face the TCU Horned Frogs at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
Raven Johnson Said South Carolina Has Room to Grow
The South Carolina Gamecocks have been dominant throughout the season, but they have unlocked another level in the NCAA Tournament. In the first three games, they have outscored their opponents by a combined 139 points.
However, they haven’t reached their ceiling yet. Raven Johnson believes that the Gamecocks still have room to grow, and they’re doing that at the right time.
“We have a lot of room to grow. And I think we’re growing at the right time,” she said. “Everybody’s clicking. I feel like the ceiling is high for us.”
“I think we’re being patient in our offense,” she added. “I think everyone is sharing the ball. We’re making the right reads. Like, first option, you’re always going to have that shot on the fifth, sixth option.”
Johnson said that head coach Dawn Staley has been emphasizing the importance of sharing the ball for a more lethal offense during practices, and the team is executing it during games.
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