No. 3 South Carolina Defeats Texas A&M 71-56 Behind Edwards' 28 Points

Gamecocks hold off late Aggies rally to secure victory on the road

Feb. 3, 2026 at 3:31am

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In a Southeastern Conference matchup, the third-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the Texas A&M Aggies 71-56 on Monday night. Joyce Edwards led the way for South Carolina with 28 points, while Tessa Johnson added 19 points and tied a career high with five 3-pointers. The Gamecocks led by as many as 16 points, but the Aggies made a late push to get within five before South Carolina pulled away again in the final minutes.

Why it matters

This victory keeps South Carolina, one of the top women's basketball programs in the country, in contention for a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. For Texas A&M, the loss extends their losing streak to six games as they continue to struggle in conference play.

The details

South Carolina jumped out to an early lead and was up by as many as 16 points in the third quarter. However, the Aggies made a late push, cutting the deficit to just five points in the fourth quarter. But the Gamecocks responded with an 9-0 run, highlighted by eight points from Edwards, to seal the victory. Johnson was a key contributor for South Carolina, making five 3-pointers in the first half.

  • The game was played on Monday, February 3, 2026.
  • South Carolina led by 16 points with about 2.5 minutes left in the third quarter.
  • Texas A&M cut the lead to five points early in the fourth quarter.

The players

Joyce Edwards

A standout player for the South Carolina Gamecocks, scoring a game-high 28 points in the victory.

Tessa Johnson

The South Carolina guard tied a career high with five 3-pointers and finished with 19 points.

Ny'ceara Pryor

The leading scorer for the Texas A&M Aggies with 14 points in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to play with the same intensity and focus throughout the entire game. Texas A&M made a late push, but we were able to respond and secure the win.”

— Dawn Staley, Head Coach, South Carolina Gamecocks

What’s next

South Carolina will host Mississippi State on Thursday night, while Texas A&M will welcome No. 21 Alabama on Sunday.

The takeaway

This victory demonstrates South Carolina's ability to withstand a late rally and close out a tough road game against a conference opponent. The Gamecocks' balanced scoring attack and defensive intensity will be key as they continue their push towards a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.