South Carolina’s women’s basketball team is leaving Fayetteville with a victory thanks in part to Ashlyn Watkins’ career performance.

Tonight’s matchup against the Arkansas Razorbacks offered the last real road test for No. 1 South Carolina before the start of next week’s SEC tournament.

How’d they look? Like a well oiled machine I’d say, defeating the home Razorbacks, 98-61. South Carolina sported a new-look starting lineup with Kamilla Cardoso back in action after resting for the past two games.

Coach Dawn Staley said earlier this week she was expecting her big to be back in the lineup Thursday.

However, it was a closely-contested battle to start the game, as the Arkansas Razorbacks ended the first-quarter trailing by just 4 points, 26-22.

The close point margin wouldn’t linger long. Widening the deficit to a 16 points by the end the first half, 24 of the Gamecocks 45 paints came in the paint area, as South Carolina’s frontcourt imposed their physical dominance on the inside and controlled the glass, corralling seven offensive rebounds in the first half.

Adding to the team mantra of everyone buying into their roles, the bench contributed mightily in the first half with 26 points.

From the third quarter on it more of the same dominance shown in the second-quarter. As a team, South Carolina shot 60 percent from the field and finished the game with a whopping 56 points in the paint.

In tonight’s win, everyone played and contributed at least 4 points. Tessa Johnson was on fire tonight, canning 4-5 shots from behind the arc, and finishing with 12 points.

She’s now shooting 43.8 percent from deep for the season. Ashlyn Watkins scored a career high 21 points (9-12) and also secured a double-double by grabbing 11 rebounds.

Chloe Kitts Seems To Be Getting Comfortable

As the season winds, Kitts plays more and more relaxed, with more decisive plays.

Watching her create in the low post is poetry in motion, the way she uses her long stride to get her defenders to bite, then in a blink of an eye rips through for a layup is text book.

It may not be in the SEC tournament when it all settles for Kitts but NCAA tournament may be the stage we see some big moments from her.

Ashlyn Watkins looks to pass the ball against the Vanderbilt Commodores (28th Jan., 2024)

South Carolina will close at their regular season this Sunday afternoon versus Tennessee at Colonial Life Arena on ESPN.