South Carolina’s winning streak ended at 29 as NC State women’s basketball claimed third win in history from a No.1

The top-ranked South Carolina women’s basketball team saw their 29-game winning streak end Thursday at home in Columbia, South Carolina, as the Gamecocks were upset 54-46 by the no. ° 8 NC State.

It was the Gamecocks’ first loss since November 28, 2019, when they fell at Indiana 71-57 in the Virgin Islands. South Carolina didn’t lose again last season and finished first; the Gamecocks would have been a No.1 seed had there been an NCAA tournament.

The Gamecocks started this season at No.1 and got off to a 3-0 start. But offensively, they battled NC State, shooting just 27 percent from the field (20 of 74). It was a game in which the Gamecocks definitely seemed to miss point guard Tyasha Harris, who ended her career last season and moved on to the WNBA.

“We just didn’t have a flow,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. “In 21 years, I have never felt what I felt while playing. Uncoachable, indomitable, just not listening, just selfish play. It will open our eyes to see what we have to be and how we have to play. every time we step on it. We need leadership. We need someone who will step in and say, “We need to organize, we need to take better photos.”

“We can’t just rely on talent. That talent has to play as a cohesive unit, and we haven’t done that tonight. And it’s disheartening. We have to bring them back and figure out how to bounce back.”

Zia Cooke and Laeticia Amihere had 11 points each to lead the Gamecocks. It was the first time South Carolina had less than 50 points in a game since February 10, 2013, when they lost 50-48 at home to Texas A&M.

“Normally we talk about trying to keep a team at 60 points,” said NC State coach Wes Moore. “Our defense was not good. Tonight we stepped up into a great game and did a great job for the most part keeping them in front of us. While also focusing on trying to keep the ball out of the paint . I’m proud of him because I’ve been the worst critic of our defense so far this year. “

Going into the game, NC State was 2-17 against the No. 1 ranked teams in the Associated Press poll era, which for women began in the 1976-77 season. The last time the Wolfpack beat a No.1 team, the coach was still Kay Yow, who died in 2009. It was in the 2007 ACC Tournament Semifinals, when the Wolfpack beat Duke 70- 65, the Blue Devils’ first loss that year. .

Moore is in his eighth season with NC State, which won the ACC tournament title last season and started this season 3-0. Kayla Jones had 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead Wolfpack, who had no starter Jada Boyd (knee injury.) Wolfpack also didn’t shoot well at 29.4%, but his defense did. compensated.

“I’m just really excited right now,” Jones said. “Usually I take the backseat and just do the little things to open up my teammates. But I knew I had to be aggressive so that we could come out and win this win.”