LSU has done everything it needs to do to pull away with a win over No. 1 ranked South Carolina.

It all started on defense, and then in the paint with Angel Reese and Aneesah Morrow. 

Reese expected to have her hands full with South Carolina’s 6-foot-7 center, Kamilla Cardoso. So, Morrow stepped up in the first quarter with 10 points, including two made threes. She finished the half with 10 points and five rebounds.

But Reese eliminated Cardoso from the game, allowing her to contribute to the Gamecocks’ scoreboard minimally. She was held to just three points and three rebounds in the first half. 

Reese found her groove in the second quarter, with eight points and three rebounds, shooting 4-for-7 from the field. She went into halftime with 11 points along with seven rebounds and three assists, shooting 5-for-11 from the field.

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It wasn’t just Morrow and Reese playing solid defensive basketball, and converting those takeaways to points. In the second quarter, LSU outrebounded South Carolina 13 to 9. 

Five of those rebounds came from Aalyah Del Rosario, LSU’s 6-foot-6 true freshman center. 

LSU’s defense didn’t just show up in the paint, it also defended the perimeter, as South Carolina didn’t attempt a 3-point shot until midway through the second quarter.

Toward the tail-end of the second quarter as well, South Carolina started to grab some rebounds and close LSU’s lead to as close as six points. 

LSU didn’t flinch. Five points from Flau’jae Johnson helped give the Tigers a double-digit lead once again. She finished the half with nine points.

South Carolina’s 3-point shots started to fall more consistently toward the end of the half, and the Gamecocks got their foot in the door.

LSU went into halftime with a five-point lead.