By ESPN | Created at 2025-03-02 21:58:57 | Updated at 2025-03-09 02:36:55
6 days ago
play
Chloe Kitts powers South Carolina to SEC title with a double-double (1:32)
Chloe Kitts' double-double lifts South Carolina to clinch share of SEC regular season title after defeating Kentucky 78-66. (1:32)
ESPN News Services
Mar 2, 2025, 04:23 PM ET
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Tessa Johnson scored 16 points, and the No. 6 South Carolina women's basketball team claimed a share of the Southeastern Conference regular-season championship with a 78-66 victory over No. 15 Kentucky on Sunday.
No. 1 Texas defeated Florida 72-46 on Sunday, so the Longhorns and Gamecocks both finished 15-1 in conference play. They split the season series, meaning a coin flip Sunday will determine the No. 1 seed for this week's SEC tournament in Greenville, South Carolina.
Te-Hina Paopao added 13 points and Chloe Kitts had 12 points and 10 rebounds for South Carolina (27-3), which has won at least a share of the regular-season title for the past four seasons.
Clara Strack scored 23 points and Georgia Amoore had 16 points for Kentucky (22-6, 11-5), which failed to build on the momentum of its 82-58 home win over No. 11 Tennessee on Thursday night. Kentucky struggled from deep, converting just 6 of 23 shots from beyond the arc.
South Carolina led 41-33 at halftime, but Kentucky closed to 63-62 with seven minutes left on a driving layup by Amoore. The Wildcats had a chance to take the lead on their next possession, but MiLaysia Fulwiley blocked Teonni Key's shot under the basket and drove the length of the floor for a layup, igniting a 12-2 run.
The Gamecocks outscored the Wildcats 13-2 in the final six minutes.
Both teams will compete this week in the SEC tournament. Kentucky was locked in as the No. 4 seed whether it won or lost on Sunday.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
