South Carolina, LSU Advance to SEC Tournament Semifinals

Gamecocks and Tigers set up potential showdown in next round

Mar. 7, 2026 at 3:35am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The top-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks and fourth-seeded LSU Tigers both won their quarterfinal matchups in the SEC women's basketball tournament on Friday. South Carolina rolled past No. 17 Kentucky 87-64, while LSU cruised past No. 7 Oklahoma 112-78 to set up a potential semifinal clash between the two powerhouse programs.

Why it matters

The SEC tournament is a key precursor to the NCAA Tournament, with the winner earning an automatic bid. South Carolina and LSU are both projected to be top seeds in the Big Dance, so their potential semifinal matchup would be a high-stakes preview of what could be a deep tournament run for one of these teams.

The details

For South Carolina, Joyce Edwards scored 21 points and Madina Okot recorded her eighth straight double-double to lead the Gamecocks. LSU was paced by MiLaysia Fulwiley's 22 points and eight assists, with four Tigers players scoring in double figures. The Sooners were led by Aaliyah Chavez's 20 points, but Oklahoma star Raegan Beers was limited to just six points before fouling out.

  • The SEC tournament quarterfinals took place on Friday, March 7, 2026.
  • The SEC tournament semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, March 8, 2026.

The players

Joyce Edwards

A standout player for the top-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks, who scored 21 points in their quarterfinal win.

Madina Okot

The South Carolina forward recorded her eighth straight double-double in the Gamecocks' victory.

MiLaysia Fulwiley

The LSU Tigers guard led her team with 22 points and eight assists in their dominant win over Oklahoma.

Raegan Beers

The Oklahoma Sooners' star center, who averages a double-double on the season, was limited to just six points and eight rebounds before fouling out.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must have been locked in and focused from the start to get this kind of win. Now we're looking forward to the next challenge.”

— Joyce Edwards, South Carolina Guard

“Our team was firing on all cylinders today. We knew we had to bring our A-game to advance, and I'm proud of how we executed.”

— MiLaysia Fulwiley, LSU Guard

What’s next

The winners of the South Carolina-LSU semifinal matchup on Saturday will advance to the SEC tournament championship game on Sunday.

The takeaway

The SEC tournament is shaping up to be a clash of the titans, with the top-seeded Gamecocks and fourth-seeded Tigers both looking dominant in their quarterfinal victories. Their potential semifinal showdown will be must-watch basketball as two of the nation's elite women's programs vie for a spot in the conference title game.