No. 3 South Carolina Routs Mississippi State 88-45

Gamecocks cruise to victory over Bulldogs in SEC matchup

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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The No. 3 ranked South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team defeated the Mississippi State Bulldogs 88-45 on Thursday night. The Gamecocks shot 54.8% from the field and had five players score in double figures, led by 21 points from sophomore forward Joyce Edwards. Mississippi State struggled offensively, shooting just 27.6% and committing 19 turnovers.

Why it matters

This lopsided loss is the second-worst defeat of the season for Mississippi State, who had previously upset No. 17 Tennessee a week ago. The Bulldogs are now 3-7 in SEC play and will need to rebound quickly to keep their postseason hopes alive.

The details

South Carolina jumped out to a big lead, outscoring Mississippi State 28-12 in the first quarter. The Gamecocks continued to pull away in the second and third quarters, leading by as many as 43 points at one point. Mississippi State was led by 12 points from Madison Francis and 11 from Kharyssa Richardson, but the Bulldogs had no answer for South Carolina's balanced scoring attack.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 6, 2026.

The players

Joyce Edwards

A sophomore forward for the South Carolina Gamecocks who scored a game-high 21 points on 8-11 shooting.

Madison Francis

A player for the Mississippi State Bulldogs who led the team with 12 points.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

This lopsided defeat highlights the challenges facing the Mississippi State women's basketball team as they look to bounce back and secure a postseason berth. Meanwhile, the dominant win reinforces South Carolina's status as one of the top teams in the country and a favorite to win the SEC title.