Joyce Edwards, South Carolina Shine in Dominant Win Over Duke

[ad_1] South Carolina shook off a gradual begin and rode dominant performances from Madina Okot and Joyce Edwards to an 81-66 win over Duke on day one of many Gamers Period Championship.

The Gamecocks (6-0) have been down 15-7 late within the first quarter and struggled to determine any rhythm within the paint. Duke, in the meantime, opened capturing almost 50% and briefly managed the tempo. However South Carolina closed the quarter on a 7-0 run, then broke the sport open with a decisive 17-0 surge spanning halftime.

From there, the frontcourt took over.

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Okot and Edwards Management the Sport <img id="11117895" alt="South Carolina star Joyce Edwards" caption="Joyce Edwards #8 of the South Carolina Gamecocks shoots against Delaney Thomas #12 of the Duke Blue Devils during the third quarter of a Players Era Championship basketball tournament game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on November 26, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)" captionoverride="LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 26: Joyce Edwards #8 of the South Carolina Gamecocks shoots against Delaney Thomas #12 of the Duke Blue Devils during the third quarter of a Players Era Championship basketball tournament game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on November 26, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)" credit="" sourcealt="" sources="[]" fetchpriority="auto" loading="lazy" width="4415" height="2943" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" src="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1536px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, 100vw" srcset="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2248630212.jpg?w=640&quality=80&webp=1 640w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2248630212.jpg?w=750&quality=80&webp=1 750w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2248630212.jpg?w=1000&quality=80&webp=1 1000w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2248630212.jpg?w=1200&quality=80&webp=1 1200w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2248630212.jpg?w=1360&quality=80&webp=1 1360w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2248630212.jpg?w=1600&quality=80&webp=1 1600w" bad-src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2248630212.jpg?w=1600&quality=80&webp=1"/> Okot tied her career-high with 23 factors and added 13 rebounds, 4 steals, and two blocks. Her vitality in transition jump-started the offense after the early lull.

“Everyone knows Madina’s an excellent participant,” Edwards mentioned. “She’s lastly coming into her true self. She’s dominant within the paint, protection, and offense.”

Edwards matched her affect with 22 factors, six rebounds, three steals, and a career-high-tying six assists. Her decision-making within the half court docket stored Duke at arm’s size.

“You simply see the ground,” Edwards mentioned. “Once you drive by anyone, you already know assistance is coming. You see the place it’s coming from, and also you cross it.”

Head coach Daybreak Staley mentioned the turning level was merely getting again to their identification.

“We nearly fell for the bait taking bounce shot after bounce shot,” Staley mentioned. “If you will get by anyone, go. When you can’t, kick it out and get forward of the possession.”

Gamecocks Overwhelm Duke Inside <img id="11117894" alt="" caption="LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 26: Ashlon Jackson #3 of the Duke Blue Devils shoots against Madina Okot #11 and Ta'Niya Latson #00 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second quarter of a Players Era Championship basketball tournament game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on November 26, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)" credit="" sourcealt="" sources="[]" fetchpriority="auto" loading="lazy" width="4546" height="3031" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" src="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1536px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, 100vw" srcset="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2248620239.jpg?w=640&quality=80&webp=1 640w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2248620239.jpg?w=750&quality=80&webp=1 750w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2248620239.jpg?w=1000&quality=80&webp=1 1000w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2248620239.jpg?w=1200&quality=80&webp=1 1200w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2248620239.jpg?w=1360&quality=80&webp=1 1360w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2248620239.jpg?w=1600&quality=80&webp=1 1600w" bad-src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2248620239.jpg?w=1600&quality=80&webp=1"/> South Carolina completed 47% from the sphere and outscored Duke 58-28 within the paint, with 69.8% of their complete factors coming on the rim. Their 15 offensive rebounds generated 14 second-chance factors, giving them 13 extra shot makes an attempt than the Blue Devils.

Duke (3-4) was led by Toby Fournier’s 16 factors, adopted by Riley Nelson with 14 and Ashlon Jackson with 11. However Carolina’s dimension, tempo, and strain buried the momentum from the Blue Devils’ promising opening stretch.

The win sends No. 2 South Carolina into Thursday’s championship matchup in opposition to No. 4 Texas. Duke will face No. 3 UCLA within the third-place recreation.