| Final | |
|---|---|
| No. 1 South Carolina (1-0, 0-0 conf.) | 101 |
| No. 20 Maryland (0-1, 0-0 Big Ten) | 93 |
No. 20 Maryland's women's basketball team fell to No. 1 South Carolina 101-93 at Adidas Arena on Monday, with the Gamecocks building an insurmountable first-half cushion that the Terrapins could not overcome. South Carolina seized control early and never let go, leading wire-to-wire without a single tie or lead change.
Addi Mack was brilliant in a losing effort, finishing with 35 points on 14-of-20 shooting, including 6-of-10 from three, while adding six assists. Oluchi Okananwa chipped in 11 points and nine rebounds, including six on the offensive glass, and Bri McDaniel contributed 11 points and six assists, but Maryland's production was overwhelmed by a South Carolina offense that shot 49 percent from the field and converted 32 fast-break points.
How it happened
The Gamecocks set the tone immediately, taking the lead for good with 9:50 remaining in the first quarter and extending it with an 11-0 run that pushed the score from 5-15 to 5-26 South Carolina with 5:31 left in the opening period. By halftime, the Gamecocks led 61-33, a 28-point advantage that effectively decided the contest. Maryland outscored South Carolina 60-40 in the second half — 26-17 in the third quarter and 34-23 in the fourth — but the deficit was simply too vast. South Carolina's lead grew as large as 31 points, fueled by 52 points in the paint and 25 points off Maryland's 16 turnovers.
Standout performances
- Addi Mack, Maryland: 35 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 14-of-20 from the field, 6-of-10 from 3, the Terrapins' lone bright spot in a lopsided opener.
- Joyce Edwards, South Carolina: 23 points, 8 rebounds, 10-of-19 from the field, dominant in the paint as the Gamecocks' primary interior force.
- Agot Makeer, South Carolina: 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, 4-of-4 from three, a perfect performance from beyond the arc.
- Oluchi Okananwa, Maryland: 11 points, 9 rebounds, 6 offensive rebounds, providing second-chance opportunities that kept Maryland within reach late.
Up next
Maryland women hosts George Mason on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. ET (B1G+). Follow it live in the GameCenter.