LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — In a commanding defensive showcase, the South Carolina Gamecocks remained undefeated Saturday by stifling the Southern California Women of Troy 69-52 in a non-conference women’s basketball game at Galen Center.

The Gamecocks, improving to 4-0, used a dominant third-quarter run and overwhelming rebounding to pull away from the Women of Troy, who fell to 2-1. South Carolina’s defense was the story of the game, holding Southern California to a frigid shooting performance, particularly from beyond the arc where the Women of Troy managed just one successful three-pointer on 14 attempts.

Joyce Edwards, the 6-foot-3 sophomore from Camden, South Carolina, anchored the Gamecocks’ effort with a double-double, scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds while also contributing four assists, two blocks and two steals in 35 minutes of action. She was instrumental in setting an aggressive tone on both ends of the floor.

She was complemented by a standout performance from guard Raven Johnson, who also recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. The 5-9 junior from Atlanta added four assists and two blocks, controlling the tempo and facilitating the offense throughout her 37 minutes.

The game was a battle in the early going. South Carolina established a first-quarter lead, outscoring Southern California 20-16, but the Women of Troy hung tough in the second period, trailing by only two points at halftime, 32-30.

The contest was decisively broken open in the third quarter. South Carolina erupted for 23 points while its defense clamped down, limiting Southern California to just 15. A key sequence saw the Gamecocks capitalize on consecutive Southern California turnovers, turning them into fast-break opportunities. Tessa Johnson, who finished with 14 points and five assists, hit a critical three-pointer during this stretch, extending the lead to double digits from which the Women of Troy would never recover.

South Carolina’s interior presence was overwhelming. Madina Okot, the 6-6 center from Mumias, Kenya, dominated the glass, pulling down a game-high 15 rebounds, including a remarkable seven on the offensive end. Her work, combined with Edwards’, helped South Carolina to a commanding 19-8 advantage in offensive rebounds, leading to 16 second-chance points.

The Gamecocks also owned the paint, outscoring the Women of Troy 44-28, and capitalized on their opponents’ mistakes, scoring 16 points off 17 Southern California turnovers.

For the Women of Troy, Kennedy Smith led the way with 12 points and four assists. Kara Dunn added 10 points and five rebounds, but the team struggled to find any consistent offensive rhythm against South Carolina’s relentless defensive pressure. Southern California shot just 22 of 67 from the field overall, resulting in an offensive rating of 68.6 points per 100 possessions.

South Carolina, while also not shooting at an elite percentage (29 of 71), was more efficient, posting an offensive rating of 92.4. Their ability to generate extra possessions through offensive boards and defensive stops proved to be the ultimate difference.

The Gamecocks’ victory was a testament to their depth and defensive identity, continuing a strong start to the season that has seen them win their first four games by an average of 31 points. Southern California, coming off a narrow road victory over North Carolina State, was handed its first loss of the young season in front of a home crowd of 8,150.

South Carolina next hosts Winthrop on Wednesday, while Southern California returns to action at home against Portland on Tuesday.