South-Carolina
No. 3 South Carolina women overwhelm No. 9 TCU 85-52
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Ashlyn Watkins had her third career dunk, MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 20 points and third-ranked South Carolina overwhelmed No. 9 TCU 85-52 on Sunday night.
Te-Hina Paopao and Raven Johnson each added 11 points, and Chloe Kitts had 12 rebounds for the Gamecocks (9-1).
Hailey Van Lith had 21 points and six assists for the Horned Frogs (9-1), who finished their first week ever as a top 10 team with a lopsided loss against the reigning national champion. They had their second 9-0 start since coach Mark Campbell’s arrival after going 8-23 the year before that.
Watkins now has a dunk in each of her three seasons with South Carolina.
The 6-foot-3 junior forward had a steal from Madison Conner past midcourt late in the first quarter, then went the other way and dunked with her right hand ahead of 6-7 Sedona Prince trying to catch up to defend the shot.
Notables
- With the 85-52 win, South Carolina handed No. 9 TCU their first loss of the season and their largest deficit faced in a game this year. It was the Gamecocks’ second top-10 win in as many games and third on the season.
- The Gamecocks’ defense had a showing, holding TCU to just nine points in the second and third quarter and scoring 30 points off turnovers.
- South Carolina’s defense held a ranked team to under 60 points for the third time this season. The Gamecocks’ five ranked opponents are averaging just 68.4 points.
- The South Carolina bench was relentless, scoring 50 points to the Horned Frogs’ game total of 52.
- Offensively, the Gamecocks were in command with 85 points their most against a ranked opponent this season, and their .574 field goal percentage was a season high.
- MiLaysia Fulwiley led the team in scoring for the third time this season, posting a team-high 20 points in 21 minutes on the floor, in addition to a team-high three steals and a block.
- Raven Johnson finished with a season-high 11 points, knocking down three 3s, including one late in the fourth quarter to give the Gamecocks their largest lead of the game at 38.
- Te-Hina Paopao finished in double digits for the sixth time this season, scoring seven of her 11 points in the second half with a three in the third quarter to cap a 12-5 run by the Gamecocks.
- Maddy McDaniel finished strong for the Gamecocks, scoring all eight of her points in the final quarter of the game all on successful free throw attempts.
- Ashlyn Watkins capitalized on a steal in the second quarter and threw down her third career dunk – her second on the road and first with a defender nearby.
Columbia, Mo. — The South Carolina softball team (25-21, 4-13) dropped the second game of its series at Missouri (24-23, 7-10) 5-0 Saturday night (Apr. 18).
Kai Byars led the Gamecocks with a pair of doubles on the night. It was her second multi-hit game of the season and her first game with multiple extra base hits.
The Tigers scored a run in the third inning without the aid of a hit. They would extend the lead and add four more in the fourth.
Carolina’s best opportunity for a run came in third. Byars doubled to lead off the inning and Shae Anderson followed with a bunt single. A double play on a potential sacrifice fly ended the rally.
Emma Friedel (8-4) took the loss, allowing one run on no hits in 3 1-3 innings. She struck out six and walked three.
The rubber game of the series will be tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET.
Audi Crooks on being in the transfer portal
USAT’s Sam Cardona-Norberg catches up with college basketball star Audi Crooks, who is still looking for her next team.
Sports Seriously
Jordan Lee entered the transfer portal after a breakout season at Texas and the junior guard isn’t going too far. She’s staying in the Southeastern Conference.
Lee announced on Instagram Friday that she’s transferring to South Carolina to play for Dawn Staley after spending the first two years of her collegiate career at Texas under Vic Schaefer. Lee captioned her Instagram post, which featured a video montage of her visit to Columbia, South Carolina, “Feeling cocky.”
Lee was one of four players from Texas to enter the transfer portal after the Longhorns’ second consecutive trip to the Final Four ended in a devastating loss to UCLA. She was named to the All-Region team in the Fort Worth 3 bracket in this year’s NCAA Tournament following her Sweet 16 and Elite Eight performance, where she recorded 22 points, six assists, three rebounds and four steals while also providing strong defense.
After being limited to five starts her freshman year, Lee slid into the starting lineup last season and started a career-high 38 games. She also averaged career highs in points (13.2), assists (2.5), rebounds (2.5), steals (1.5), field-goal percentage (42%) and free-throw percentage (75%), while shooting 34% from 3-point range.
Texas’ Aaliyah Crump, Justice Carlton and Aaliyah Moore also entered the transfer portal. On Friday, Crump announced she’s transferring to Duke, citing her connection with head coach Kara Lawson.
“For me, choosing Duke University goes far beyond one sentence. The moment I connected with Kara Lawson and her coaching staff, I knew I was exactly where I belonged,” said Crump, who averaged 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game her freshman season at Texas.
Crump continued: “Their dedication and vision for the program is truly special, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be a part of it. The connection Coach Lawson and I have built is one of a kind, and I fully trust in her plan for the success of this program. I can’t wait to be coached by genuine people who support my growth not only as a basketball player, but as a person as well.”
Three-time All-American Madison Booker and junior starting forward Breya Cunningham are expected to return to Texas.
Contributing: Mitchell Northam
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.
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Each offseason, the NFL shakes up the landscape with free agency, as some of the top names at each position move around the league to new teams. The New Orleans Saints have fallen victim to this in 2026 so far, with Demario Davis and Alontae Taylor both moving on, and Cameron Jordan not having re-signed as of yet. Cornerback was a position that could already use a talent influx alongside Kool-Aid McKinstry and Quincy Riley; now, it is even more of an issue.
Adding a new defensive back to fill the STAR role for the defense is certainly going to be a focus this spring, and that has been clear from the Saints’ pre-draft meetings. Recently, they added another name to the growing list; this time, it was South Carolina prospect Jalon Kilgore.
There is a lot to like about Kilgore, especially in that nickel or STAR role long term. He is enormously athletic and absolutely rapid both in straight-line testing and on the field. He got a decent chunk of his collegiate snaps at slot corner, 1,382 to be exact, but also had 541 in the box, 238 at free safety, 53 along the defensive line, and 24 as an outside corner.
His coverage metrics in 2025 were very solid, as on 65 targets, he allowed 34 receptions (52.3%) for 390 yards and 2 touchdowns. He picked up 2 interceptions, 10 pass deflections, 54 total tackles, and 2 fumble recoveries in 694 total snaps this season. Throughout the combine, he ended up performing well in pretty much every drill, which bodes well for his ability to translate to the NFL. If the Saints are looking to add someone with slot experience already, Kilgore may be one of the best options available.
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