Survival, stars and stumbles: SEC women’s basketball hits Week 2 at full speed

Kentucky found a star turn big enough to tilt the national conversation, while Oklahoma’s pace has turned games into track meets with little mercy. Tennessee is wearing teams down with pressure and depth, Mississippi is proving it belongs in every heavyweight fight, and Georgia continues to make its home floor matter. Not everyone escaped unscathed, with LSU’s early stumble raising questions that won’t wait until February for answers. Around the league, margins are thin and momentum can flip in a single quarter. This week’s notebook tracks the numbers, the trends and the moments already shaping the SEC race.

South Carolina

The Gamecocks opened SEC play with an emphatic win over Alabama, then gutted out an 11-point victory against a scrappy Florida team despite offensive struggles. The Gamecocks shot a season-low 34.3% from the field and committed a season-high 21 turnovers, yet prevailed by holding Florida to 33.8% shooting, dominating the glass for second-chance points and converting at the free-throw line. South Carolina faces a road test at Arkansas on Thursday before returning home Sunday against Georgia.

The Gamecocks enter the week fifth nationally in field-goal percentage defense (32.1%), rank in the top 10 in rebounding their own misses (43.3%) and are shooting 52.7% from the field, second-best in the nation. Gamecocks guard Raven Johnson needs six assists to tie for fifth in program history, and South Carolina’s 6.6 blocks per game rank fifth nationally.

Texas

The Longhorns opened SEC play by surviving a furious Mississippi rally and rolling past Missouri to reach 17-0 overall, its best start since the 1985-86 national championship season under Jody Conradt. The Longhorns’ push to return to the women’s NCAA Final Four now intensifies, with Auburn visiting Thursday before a road test on Sunday at No. 12 LSU, which has dropped its first two SEC games.

While Madison Booker and Rori Harmon continue to anchor the lineup — with Harmon tied for second on the program’s career steals list — Jordan Lee has emerged as a major factor. The sophomore is averaging 15.6 points, has scored in double figures in 15 of 17 games and is posting 17.7 points per game against ranked opponents while shooting 46% from the field. Lee has hit 40 3-pointers at better than a 39% clip, making her a key player to watch alongside Kyla Oldacre and Missouri transfer Ashton Judd.

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LSU

The Tigers stormed through the opening stretch of the season, topping 100 points in 11 of their first 14 wins, but that momentum vanished quickly in SEC play. LSU dropped its opener on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Kentucky’s Tonie Morgan, then fell 65-61 on the road as Mikayla Blakes erupted for 32 points. Flau’jae Johnson, nine points shy of becoming the ninth player in program history to reach 1,800, was held scoreless on 0-for-4 shooting. Jada Richard and MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 13 points apiece, Mikaylah Williams added 12 and ZaKiyah Johnson chipped in 10.

Coach Kim Mulkey questioned LSU’s mental and physical toughness this week, and answers will be required with Georgia and Texas up next before a road trip to fast-paced Oklahoma. A bounce-back outing from Johnson, strong guard play and more production in the paint will be critical. A couple of notes: LSU has started conference play 0-2 for the first time since 2010-11, and Georgia has not beaten the Tigers since Feb. 23, 2020.

Kentucky

The Wildcats could not have scripted a better start. They picked up a marquee road win at LSU, fueled by the brilliance of guard Tonie Morgan. Morgan swept national and conference honors Tuesday after piling up 42 points and 26 assists with just three turnovers while shooting better than 65 percent against LSU and Missouri. Kentucky (15-1) now turns its focus to Thursday’s game at Alabama before returning home to face Oklahoma on Sunday. The Wildcats are 2-0 in SEC play for the second straight season under coach Kenny Brooks, and a win at Alabama would make them 16-1 for the second consecutive year, a program first.

Morgan enters Thursday ranked first nationally in total assists (144) and assists per game (9.0) and is the nation’s only player averaging at least 13 points and nine assists. She is joined by 6-foot-5 center Clara Strack, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder and the only player in the country averaging at least 16 points, nine rebounds and 2.5 blocks. Kentucky also brings one of the nation’s stingiest defenses, ranking third in scoring defense (52.1 points per game) and seventh in field-goal percentage defense (32.8).

Oklahoma

The Sooners opened league action with wins against Texas A&M and Mississippi State and enter the week riding a 13-game winning streak, the second longest in program history behind only the 2008-09 Final Four team. During the streak, OU has scored 100 points a program-record six times, averaging 98.1 points while outscoring opponents by more than 40 per game. The Sooners already own five Power Five wins and are off to a 14-1 start, tied for the second-best in program history. Now comes the challenge. Ranked tests await, beginning Thursday against Mississippi and followed by a marquee road trip to Kentucky on Sunday.

OU boasts one of the nation’s elite attacks, ranking second nationally in scoring (94.5 points per game) and fourth in assists (21.9). All five starters average double figures, led by Aaliyah Chavez (18.9) and Raegan Beers (17.4), while the starting lineup ranks second nationally in scoring. The Sooners thrive in transition and in the paint, ranking in the top five in fast-break, second-chance and paint points. Defensively, Oklahoma leads the nation in opponent field-goal percentage (29.8), ranks fourth in defensive rating and has not allowed a team to shoot better than 42 percent all season. The Sooners have won 38 straight games when holding opponents under 70 points and lead the country in rebounding.

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Vanderbilt

The Commodores continue to build momentum, and Sunday’s 65-61 win against then-No. 5 LSU marked another milestone for a program on the rise. The victory was coach Shea Ralph’s first against a top-five opponent and pushed Vanderbilt to 15-0 overall and 2-0 in SEC play, making them one of four unbeaten teams nationally and one of two undefeated in the league. Sophomore All-American Mikayla Blakes led the way again, scoring 32 points for her second straight 30-point performance while extending her double-digit scoring streak to 34 games, the second longest in program history. Blakes averaged 33.5 points, 6.0 assists and 3.0 steals in two SEC wins and swept National Player of the Week honors from the Associated Press, Naismith Trophy and USBWA.

Vanderbilt moved into the top 10 in both major polls this week, checking in at No. 7 in the AP Top 25 and No. 6 in the coaches poll for the first time since 2006-07. The Commodores’ 15-0 start is the second best in program history, trailing only the 1992-93 Final Four team. Vandy has won 10 straight games at Memorial Gym. Balanced scoring has fueled the surge, with five upperclassmen posting career-best averages and the Commodores ranking 13th nationally in 3-pointers made per game. Vanderbilt will look to keep rolling Thursday at home against Missouri before traveling to Texas A&M on Sunday.

Tennessee

The Volunteers enter the week rolling, riding a three-game winning streak and sitting at 2-0 in SEC play after a convincing 73-56 road win at Auburn. Kim Caldwell’s Lady Vols are one of six teams tied atop the league standings, fueled by relentless pressure and a fast-paced attack. Talaysia Cooper and Janiah Barker led the way Sunday, combining for 35 points as Cooper scored 18 with four assists and four steals, while Barker added 17 points and eight rebounds. Cooper has reached double figures in 12 games this season and ranks among the nation’s leaders in steals, setting the tone for a defense that forces more than 22 turnovers per game.

Tennessee’s depth and tempo continue to wear teams down, with the Pauldo twins (Mya and Mia) providing perimeter punch and five players already in double figures in made 3-pointers. The Lady Vols are outscoring opponents by more than 20 points per game, rank in the top 10 nationally in 3-pointers made and offensive rebounding, and thrive on creating easy baskets off pressure.

Now, Tennessee heads to Mississippi State on Thursday for the 50th meeting between the programs, a series the Lady Vols lead 41-8, before returning home Sunday to face Arkansas. Maintaining defensive intensity, winning the rebounding battle and controlling pace will be key as Tennessee looks to keep its early SEC momentum intact.

Mississippi

Mississippi faces another stiff test this week as it hits the road for a ranked matchup Thursday at Oklahoma before returning home Sunday for the Egg Bowl on the hardwood against Mississippi State. It will be just the second time the Rebels and Sooners meet as conference foes and only the seventh meeting overall, though Oklahoma has won the last three and leads the series 4-2. Mississippi is coming off a hard-fought 67-64 loss at No. 2 Texas, where they nearly erased a 19-point deficit with a furious fourth-quarter rally.

Cotie McMahon powered the comeback effort with 19 points, including 12 in the final quarter, extending her streak of double-digit scoring to 17 games. Latasha Lattimore continues to anchor Mississippi on both ends, posting 17 points and five blocks against Texas while extending her block streak to 11 straight games. Mississippi ranks among the SEC’s best defensive teams, averaging five blocks per game, with Lattimore sitting third in the league and top 20 nationally in total blocks. Sira Thienou added 14 points against the Longhorns and set the tone early, while Mississippi’s depth and rim protection remain central to its identity. Limiting Oklahoma’s firepower Thursday and maintaining defensive intensity will be critical before turning attention to a rivalry showdown with Mississippi State.

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Alabama

The Crimson Tide are 1-1 in SEC play after a loss to South Carolina and a win against Arkansas, but remain among the league’s most efficient teams. Alabama enters the week ranked in the SEC’s top five in scoring margin and defensive efficiency, while also sitting in the top 25 nationally in points allowed (52.6, eighth) and defensive rating (77.0, 21st). Essence Cody ranks sixth in the conference in blocks per game (1.5). Alabama hosts Kentucky on Thursday before traveling to Missouri on Monday.

Mississippi State

The Bulldogs are 1-1 in league play and have shown flashes of competitiveness, opening SEC action with a win against Auburn before suffering a lopsided loss at Oklahoma. Defense remains the foundation under head coach Sam Purcell, and Mississippi State will need it with ranked matchups looming against Tennessee on Thursday and Mississippi on Sunday. The Bulldogs rank among the SEC’s top teams in defensive rebounding percentage, while Favour Nwaedozi leads the team in scoring, rebounding and interior efficiency.

Georgia

Georgia is 1-1 in conference play after an overtime win against Texas A&M and a loss to Mississippi. The Bulldogs rank top five in the SEC in field-goal percentage, field-goal percentage defense and 3-point shooting, while also sitting in the league’s top half in assists per game. Georgia features multiple double-digit scorers and remains unbeaten at home. The Bulldogs host LSU on Thursday before a road test at South Carolina on Sunday.

Florida

The Gators opened SEC play with losses to ranked Tennessee and South Carolina but remained competitive in both contests. The Gators have been solid defensively, holding 14 of 17 opponents below 70 points this season, while also ranking in the top 30 nationally in free throws made (15.4) and attempted (21.9) per game. Liv McGill is 22 points shy of becoming the 30th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points and would be just the second sophomore to do so. Florida hosts Texas A&M on Thursday before traveling to Auburn on Sunday.

Auburn

The Tigers are still searching for their first SEC win after opening conference play with losses to Mississippi State and Tennessee. The schedule remains unforgiving, with Auburn traveling to Texas on Thursday before returning home to face Florida on Sunday. First-year head coach Larry Vickers continues to look for consistency on the offensive end as SEC play intensifies.

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Texas A&M

The Aggies also opened league play 0-2 and face a challenging week with a road trip to Florida on Thursday, followed by a ranked matchup at home against Vanderbilt. Fatmata Janneh has been a steady presence, posting five straight double-doubles and averaging 11.9 points and an SEC-best 12.1 rebounds per game. Ny’Ceara Pryor continues to anchor the backcourt, averaging 16.4 points, 7.5 assists, 4.6 rebounds and a league-leading 3.9 steals per game. Pryor ranks fourth nationally in steals and sixth in assists. She needs 30 points and eight assists to become the sixth player in D-I history to record at least 2,000 points, 500 assists and 400 steals in a career.

Missouri

The Tigers dropped both of their SEC games in Week 1 and will look to break through Thursday at Vanderbilt before hosting Alabama on Monday. The Tigers’ offense is guard-oriented, led by Grace Slaughter and Shannon Dowell, but defensive efficiency remains a concern. Missouri ranks outside the top 290 nationally in both defensive rating and opponent scoring.

Arkansas

The Razorbacks opened SEC play with two losses under first-year head coach Kelsi Musick and face another difficult stretch this week, hosting South Carolina on Thursday before traveling to Tennessee on Sunday. Arkansas has struggled offensively against elite defenses (its matchup against Alabama last week) but has shown scoring potential, ranking 49th nationally in points per game. Taleyah Jones, Jenna Lawrence and freshman Bonnie Deas have been the team’s biggest bright spots.