Raven Johnson Stats: How did South Carolina star fare vs Charleston Southern? (Dec. 19)
Raven Johnson delivered a standout performance in South Carolina’s 82-46 win over Charleston Southern on Thursday. The No. 2 Gamecocks benefited from the junior guard’s all-around contributions during the home game.
Johnson led the Gamecocks in minutes played with 26, finishing with nine points on an efficient 4-of-5 shooting. She also added seven rebounds, two assists, one block and a team-high four steals out of South Carolina’s total of 11.
The Gamecocks struggled early, reflected in Johnson’s quiet start with one steal and two missed shots in the first quarter. However, she bounced back in the second quarter, scoring four points and grabbing three rebounds during a critical 10-2 run over four minutes. The Buccaneers finally halted the run with a 3-pointer at the 1:51 mark.
After halftime, Johnson contributed on both ends, collecting three rebounds and a block in the third quarter. She capped off her performance in the fourth quarter with five points, three steals, two assists and one rebound, helping to secure the decisive 36-point win.
Johnson’s performance was encouraging as she aims to build on last season’s success. So far this season, she is averaging 4.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.3 steals across 12 games. She focuses on improving her shooting efficiency, currently shooting 31% from the field, 28.6% from the 3-point range and 50% from the free-throw line.
Gamecocks Secure 11th Win of the Season
The Gamecocks wrapped up their pre-Christmas schedule with an 82-46 victory over the Buccaneers, improving to 5-0 at home and 11-1 overall.
South Carolina appeared sluggish in the first half, trailing 15-11 at the end of the first quarter. The Buccaneers outrebounded the Gamecocks by four and shot 39%, while South Carolina managed only 14.3% from the field.
The Gamecocks gradually improved in the second quarter, entering halftime with a narrow 34-26 lead. They gained momentum in the third quarter with 10-0 and 8-0 runs, eventually securing their first 20-point lead just over a minute into the fourth quarter. South Carolina shot 62% in the second half and outscored Charleston Southern 48-20 after the break.
"I feel like all of our minds were on break, to be honest, but we understood when we came out after halftime we had to lock in. The game shouldn’t have been that close," said Joyce Edwards, who recorded a game-high 20 points, six rebounds and two steals.
The Gamecocks return to action on Dec. 29 against Wofford.