LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Medina Okot scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead No. 3 South Carolina to a 60-56 victory over No. 16 Kentucky on Sunday.
The Gamecocks (29-2, 15-1 Southeastern Conference) led 54-43 with 8:28 left in the game but had only field goals from Okot and Tessa Johnson the rest of the way before the Wildcats (21-9, 8-8 Southeastern Conference) mounted a late rally.
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Clara Stryker led the way with 24 points and nine rebounds, scoring eight points late in the game. The Wildcats trailed by two points, 58-56, but Teonni Key missed a layup and scored on the rebound to give South Carolina the ball. Okote made the final shot with a layup.
Johnson scored 12 points and LaVine Johnson added 11 points for the Gamecocks.
Strike made 11 of 19 shots in the game, but the rest of the Wildcats shot 13 of 44.
South Carolina led 33-27 at halftime, but Kentucky went on a 10-4 run to tie the game at 37, aided by two 3-pointers from Asha Boone.
Back-to-back layups by Okot soon gave the Gamecocks the lead, leading 54-43 and preserving the victory.
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Boone was the only Wildcat player to score in double figures with 11 points.
Next
South Carolina: Enters the SEC Tournament as the top seed on Friday.
Kentucky: TBD to play in SEC Tournament.
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