Trailing 73-72, LSU had a chance to take a one-point lead with 45.5 seconds left, but Flau’jae Johnson missed two free throws.
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South Carolina (25-2, 11-1 SEC) shut down the Tigers (22-4, 8-4) by scoring six straight points, including Madina Okot’s layup with 25.5 seconds left and her two free throws with 16.1 seconds left.
Raven Johnson added 19 for the Gamecocks, Okot had a double-double with 12 points and 17 rebounds and Joyce Edwards scored 10 points.
Johnson led LSU with 21 points and Mikaylah Williams added 11.
The Tigers had their chances, but they wasted too many opportunities. They missed 10 layups and nine free throws.
Despite leading just 4:09 into the first half, South Carolina turned LSU’s 21-16 first-quarter lead into a 41-40 halftime lead.
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The Tigers led by as many as five points several times in the second quarter, but were never able to pull away. Even though Johnson scored eight points, the Gamecocks responded by going 5 of 9 from 3-point range in the period.
Tessa Johnson and Raven Johnson combined for 19 of South Carolina’s 25 points in the second quarter. Tessa Johnson, the SEC’s leading 3-point shooter, scored 11 points and was 3 of 4 from long range.
LSU opened the third quarter missing eight of its first 11 shots, including two layups. South Carolina capitalized with a 9-2 run for a 50-42 lead with 5:20 left in the period.
Tigers reserve forward Bella Hines and Jada Richard sparked reactions that twice reduced the Gamecocks’ lead to three points. But South Carolina scored the final four points of the period for a 60-55 lead entering the fourth quarter.
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LSU scored on layups on four consecutive possessions, two by Flau’Jae Johnson, forcing the Gamecocks to call a timeout with 3:44 left and cling to a 69-68 lead. But South Carolina never lost the lead.
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South Carolina: Ranked 23rd Alabama on Thursday.
LSU: At No. 16 to Ole Miss on Thursday.