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South Carolina capitalized on LSU’s struggles with turnovers to take control in a high-stakes matchup on Friday. The team was favored by Te-Hina Paopao during the third quarter. She made a quick basket followed by LSU’s costly inbound mistakes. Within moments, LSU was trailing by nine points with just over five minutes remaining in the quarter.
Paopao was a standout for the Gamecocks, delivering a performance that showcased her skills under pressure. The assist caught the attention of WNBA star Chelsea Gray, who praised her play on X (formerly Twitter).
She wrote:
“Over the head dime by @tehinapaopa0 !! I likeeeee dattttt.”
Fans echoed Gray’s enthusiasm, flooding the post with comments celebrating Paopao’s game-changing presence. This top-five SEC clash inside a deafening Colonial Life Arena had fans glued to every play. LSU struggled offensively in the second half, shooting just 27% and committing nine turnovers, allowing South Carolina to pull away. The Gamecocks emerged victorious, defeating the Tigers 66-56 and handing them their first loss of the season.
With this win, South Carolina (19-1, 7-0 SEC) climbed to the top of the conference standings, while LSU (20-1, 5-1 SEC) saw its perfect record shattered. It’s the second time in three years that the Tigers’ winning streak has come to an end in Columbia.
Te-Hina Paopao’s moment of brilliance
As a fifth-year senior, she has solidified her role as one of the most versatile players in women’s college basketball. This season, she led South Carolina in scoring with 11.6 points per game while shooting an impressive 49% from the field and 43% from beyond the arc. Paopao has also stepped up defensively and improved her playmaking, averaging 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
Te-Hina Paopao’s outstanding season hasn’t gone unnoticed. Earlier this month, she was named to the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List, placing her among the elite players in women’s college basketball.
Last season, she was the nation’s most accurate 3-point shooter, and her long-range shooting remains her strength. Against ranked opponents, she’s averaging 14.0 points on 55.8% shooting, proving her ability to shine in the toughest matchups.
Her versatility has also been on display in SEC play, where she’s averaging 13.5 points on 52.9% shooting. She’s also leading the team in double-digit scoring games, with 10 such performances this season. Now South Carolina’s victory solidifies their position as the team to beat in the SEC.
Also read: “My twin flame”: Notre Dame’s Kylee Watson & South Carolina’s Te-Hina Paopao get a matching tattoo to honor their friendship
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Edited by Neha
