- Kenya’s Madina Okot continues to make waves in United States Division I, now leading the tournament in double-doubles with 13.
- On Thursday, Okot helped her side secure a hard-fought 68–65 victory over the Texas Longhorns.
- The senior center drilled a crucial three-pointer in the fourth quarter, giving the Gamecocks a 61–57 lead with about 3:30 remaining.
Kenya’s basketball sensation Madina Okot continues to make waves in United States Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
On Thursday January 16, she helped her powerhouse side, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, avenge their only loss of the season with a 68–65 victory over the Texas Longhorns.
Joyce Edwards led South Carolina with 14 points and 8 rebounds, but it was a balanced offensive effort, with all five starters scoring in double figures.
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However, defense defined the contest for both teams. Intense pressure made ball security exceptionally difficult.
Texas surrendered 23 points off 22 turnovers by the final whistle.
South Carolina fared only slightly better in this regard, committing 20 turnovers just one shy of their season high set against Florida on Jan. 4. Several of these were inbound errors.
Kenya’s Madina Okot defining moment against Texas
Yet the most sensational moment of the day came when senior center Okot drained a three-pointer in the fourth quarter.
The 21-year-old has made only two shots from beyond the arc all season, but this one arrived with the game tightly contested and South Carolina desperate for every score.
Since she rarely attempts long-range shots, Texas left Okot completely unguarded.
The basket gave the Gamecocks a 61–57 advantage with roughly 3:30 remaining.
When the ball went through, the entire Colonial Life Arena crowd leaped to its feet, prompting Texas coach Vic Schaefer to immediately call a timeout.
Her team maintained that lead and ultimately secured the win.
The Gamecocks currently hold second place in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) with an 11-game winning streak and a 5–0 conference record.
Meanwhile, Okot -widely regarded as one of the SEC’s most improved players, continues a proud tradition of dominant post players at South Carolina.
In just her second season as a Division I athlete, she is producing better numbers than Aliyah Boston did during her first two years in Columbia.
Last season, Okot helped Mississippi State reach the NCAA Tournament.
This year, the former Zetech University player has elevated her game even further.
Her scoring average has increased by nearly four points per game, she leads the tournament with 13 double-doubles, and she has become a cornerstone of a team with legitimate Final Four aspirations.
Coach Dawn Staley applauds Madina Okot’s adaptation to the pressures of high-stakes NCAA competition
After the game, Coach Dawn Staley was effusive in praising Okot, noting her commitment to improvement and expressing unwavering confidence in her.
“We worked her,” Staley said. “Our bigs are comfortable taking the 3s and because we worked them,” Staley said.
“She couldn’t hit it at a more important time for her and for us. She is working through some things and when you are working through some things, you just have to get through the other side.
She hasn’t been in this situation before. It is unfamiliar territory. It is big stakes and big games. It takes some time to get used to.”