2️⃣4️⃣ POINTS.
EVERYTHING IN THE 2nd HALF. @Legend_Hooper took over for @LadyVol_Hoops 😤 pic.twitter.com/ebXabcqIiT
– SEC Network (@SECNetwork) February 19, 2021
The 21st place, Tennessee, won its first top 5 victory since 2017, after defeating the 2nd place in South Carolina, by 75-67, on Thursday night. The victory over the Gamecocks ended the sequence of 31 consecutive SEC games in the South Carolina regular season. The Gamecocks last lost in the SEC regular season almost two years ago (consecutively lost to the state of Mississippi on March 3. 2019 and then to Arkansas at the SEC tournament five days later).
Tennessee was down 15 points in the third quarter, but it was an acquisition by Rennia Davis that gave South Carolina its first SEC loss of the season. Davis failed to shoot to fall in the first half, but she started to find an offensive pace, kicking 6 to 12 off the ground. She also took down two big 3s and was impeccable in the charity streak with 10 free throws. Davis scored a double-double, scoring 24 points and posting 12 rebounds. Rae Burrell and Jordan Horston, from Tennessee, had 31 points.
In South Carolina, Aliyah Boston led with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Zia Cooke and Destanni Henderson also won 15 points per piece for Gamecocks, but it was not enough – South Carolina made 38.2% of the shots for the game. South Carolina, a team that is known for its fast-paced game, was limited to just three quick break points compared to Tennessee’s 10.
Tennessee also remained resilient on the plates, tying 40-40 on the glass.