No. 1 South Carolina women's basketball maintained its grip on an age-old in-state rivalry in Thursday's NCAA lineup. The Gamecocks beat Clemson 65-44, marking its 16th straight win over the Tigers.
Chloe Kitts Fuels South Carolina vs Clemson NCAA Basketball Rivalry
Clemson made Dawn Staley's squad work early in the NCAA basketball rivalry clash.
The Tigers leaned on their defense to stay within striking distance through the first half. However, the third quarter changed everything.
Johnson and Kitts combined for 13 points in the first six minutes after the break, stretching South Carolina's lead to 44-22. Clemson never recovered. Forward Chloe Kitts finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds for her second straight — and 19th-career — double-double, while teammate Tessa Johnson scored nine of her team-high 13 points in the third frame.
The Tigers subsequently fell to 3-1 with Thursday's loss, posting their first defeat of the 2026/27 NCAA women's basketball season.
The South Carolina vs Clemson result extended the cross-state series's lopsided run, after the Gamecocks beat the Tigers 65-37 last November at Colonial Life Arena.
