COLUMBIA, S.C. —In a matchup of the nation’s final two unbeaten teams, No. 3 LSU (23-1, 11-1 SEC) fell behind early to No. 1 South Carolina (25-0, 12-0 SEC) and the Tigers punched back, but ultimately South Carolina pulled away Sunday in a sold-out Colonial Life Arena, 88-64. 

It marked South Carolina’s 31st consecutive win as the Tigers 23-game win streak came to an end. After falling behind quickly in the first quarter, 18-2, LSU clawed to get back in the game to bring the score within three points halfway through the second quarter. The Gamecocks depth and size proved to be too much though as South Carolina prevented LSU from every gaining a lead, eventually pulling away from the Tigers. 

“I'll give my utmost respect and comments about how good they are, how big they are, how tall they are,” Coach Kim Mulkey said. “It’s South Carolina (at the top) in my opinion and everyone else and after playing them today my opinion on that has not changed. They have things that we don’t have and a lot of the teams in the country don’t have. We aspire to be there one day.”

Alexis Morris led LSU with 23 points and 6 rebounds as her 15 first half points kept the Tigers in the contest. Morris was 4-5 in the second quarter and finished the afternoon shooting 38-percent from the field. Angel Reese was held for the first time this season without a double-double, ending her LSU record 23-game streak. She had 16 points and 4 rebounds.

LSU battled foul trouble early as both LaDazhia Williams and Flau’jae Johnson picked up two early fouls and were limited because of it. Sa’Myah Smith came in off the bench and played well as the freshman finished with 7 points, 6 rebounds and a block.

Kamilla Cardoso came off the bench to earn her sixth double-double of the season with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Cardoso stands at 6’7” and used her size in the post to go 5-7 from the field. 

South Carolina had five players in double figures. ZiaCooke had 17, Brea Beal scored 11, and Raven Johnson had 10. The reigning national player of the year, Aliyah Boston, scored 14 points and hauled in 9 boards.

South Carolina won the battle on the boards, out rebounding the Tigers, 43-25. The Gamecocks also had five players finish scoring in double-figures and got contributions up and down their bench. With 46 bench points, South Carolina got over half of its offensive production coming from its non-starters.

“This is just one game,” Coach Mulkey explained. “There are goals we have, and we've got to take tomorrow off and get ready for Ole Miss. Be thankful that LSU was on this stage. Who in the world would have thought that we would be on this stage in year two of rebuilding the program?”

The Tigers will be back inside the PMAC later this week as they host Ole Miss on Thursday in the annual “Play4Kay” Pink Out Game. Tip-Off is slated for 8 p.m. CT and will be live on the SEC Network.