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The South Carolina Gamecocks suffer their second defeat in SEC play after the Missouri Tigers pulled off a 62-60 upset on their home floor. Tigers’ Sophie Cunningham capped off a dominate second half with a lay-up in the final seconds to send Carolina to 22-4 (12-2) on the season.
The Gamecocks started slow, scoring only 10 first quarter points. They struggled shooting the ball throughout the game, especially in the first half. A’ja Wilson had 10 points at the break on 4-5 shooting. The rest of the team combined to shoot 5-21 from the floor. Carolina led 30-26 at the break after holding Missouri only 11 points in the second period.
It was back and forth in the second half as Cunningham and Wilson carried their offenses. Cunningham scored 20 points in the second half while Wilson tallied 13 for the Gamecocks.
Missouri took a 58-54 lead under three minutes remaining after a pair of Cunningham free throws. Wilson then scored six straight to give the Gamecocks a two point lead in the final minute. Cunningham responded with a bucket to tie it back up with :35 seconds remaining. Kaela Davis then committed an offensive foul to give the Tigers the ball with the shot clock off. Mizzou set up an iso with Cunningham at the three point line and she knifed her way through the Carolina defense to hit the game-winning lay-up. Carolina had 0.6 left on the clock but failed to get a shot up.
Wilson led the Gamecocks with 23 points and nine rebounds. Allisha Gray was the only other Gamecock in double figures with 13. Alaina Coates fouled out in the fourth period, only scoring two points on one shot from the floor. Wilson shot 9-11 form the floor but the rest of the team only managed to shoot 12-40. After hitting 10-12 free throws in the first half, Carolina shot 5-10 in the second.
Missouri was led by Cunningham’s 26 points. Sierra Michaelis scored 11 for the Tigers while Cierra Porter notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards. The Tigers won the battle at the glass, edging Carolina 34-26. The also kept it close in the paint scoring 30 to USC’s 32.
Next up for the Gamecocks is another trip out west as they take on the #23 Texas A&M Aggies.