NCAAW: South Carolina-Texas, Tennessee-LSU headline a super Sunday

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Sunday’s best sports action will come on the SEC women’s basketball hardwood, with a pair of tantalizing top-20 rematches.

First, No. 4 Texas gets a second shot at No. 2 South Carolina (2 p.m. ET, ESPN). Then, another redux as No. 6 LSU hosts No. 19 Tennessee (4 p.m. ET, ESPN/Disney+).

Book another South Carolina win in Austin?

A little more than one month ago, the Longhorns’ trip to Columbia, SC did not go as planned, as the Gamecocks routed the visitors, with the final score of 67-50 disguising South Carolina’s total domination.

It was a particularly bad afternoon for Madison Booker, as the sophomore forward’s sweet jumper betrayed her on the big stage. (South Carolina senior guard Bree Hall also deserves credit for allowing nothing to be easy.) Booker, however, already is stamped, having delivered a series of superstar-caliber performances for the depleted Longhorns last season. It’s safe to assume the newly-minted 1,000-point scorer will be ready to make the most of second game against South Carolina.

Yet, even with a much better effort from Booker, it’s hard to see South Carolina exiting Austin without another win. Since their lone loss to No. 1 UCLA, the Gamecocks have discovered a higher gear, as their previous win over Texas exemplified.

In particular, South Carolina’s bench, already their greatest strength, has become an even more pronounced advantage, as both freshman forward Joyce Edwards and sophomore guard MiLaysia Fulwiley continue to give head coach Dawn Staley’s squad a boost that opponents cannot match. Before a relatively quiet game in South Carolina’s blowout of Georgia on Thursday, Edwards had scored in double figures in eight-straight contests, a streak that made her the team’s leading scorer at 12.4 points per game. Fulwiley is second on the team in scoring, netting 11.4 per contest, all with a side of incomparable flair.

And we can expect Staley, a noted Philadelphia Eagles fan (who is sure to be supporting her squad with a stylish sideline fit), to have her team motivated to take care of business in a timely fashion so she turn her attention to the day’s (other) big game.

Prepare for a high-scoring battle in Baton Rouge

Unlike the last meeting between the Longhorns and Gamecocks, the previous date between the Lady Vols and Tigers had its fair share of excitement, with a crafty game-winner from junior guard Kailyn Gilbert giving LSU the 89-87 win on Rocky Top.

Tennessee, fresh off their first win over UConn since 2007, should be amped to avenge that result in Baton Rouge.

In the first matchup, both teams played to type. LSU did their damage inside, scoring 60 points in the paint to Tennessee’s 30. The Lady Vols, of course, had the edge from behind the arc, attempting 31 and making 11 3-pointers; in contrast, the Tigers had one make on just eight attempts from deep. Other statistical categories were closely contested, although LSU did find more points in transition. A similar script could play out on Sunday afternoon, with a few missed or made 3s from Tennessee determining if they can change the final result.

Alternatively, Tennessee showed they could win without the 3 on Thursday. Their 28 3-point attempts—still a lot for an average team—was below the Lady Vols’ usual mark of around 33 per game. And, they only hit 25 percent of them. As Beckett Harrison smartly noted in his preview of the rivalry game against UConn, it seemed likely that spectacular 3-point shooting would be the Lady Vols’ surest path to an upset. Instead, they sliced and diced the Huskies, using the spaced floor, garnered due to their 3-point shooting reputation, to score at the basket with unusual ease.

COOP FOR TWOSAM FOR TWO SAM FOR TWO AGAIN& SAM AGAIN

8-0 Lady Vol RUN!!!

— Lady Vols Basketball (@LadyVol_Hoops) February 7, 2025

A more physical, athletic LSU team might make such a plan of attack more difficult, but Thursday’s big win demonstrated the offensive avenues that can be unlocked because of Tennessee’s established emphasis on 3-point shooting.

If the game again is close down the stretch, it also could become a showcase for some the SEC’s most electric individual talents, headlined by LSU junior guard Flau’jae Johnson and Tennessee sophomore guard Talaysia Cooper. Cooper leads the Lady Vols at 17.6 points per game, while Johnson is putting up almost 20 per contest for the Tigers.