GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 07: Joyce Edwards #8 of the South Carolina Gamecocks shoots ... [+] against Iyana Moore #23 of the Vanderbilt Commodores in the third quarter during the quarterfinal round of the SEC women's basketball tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 07, 2025 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) Getty Images Coin Flip Begins a Unique Start to Tournament The Southeastern Conference (SEC) throughout the women’s basketball community was known as the most difficult conference to play within this year, as majority of the teams were ranked throughout the regular season. The title of the regular season champions came down to the matchup between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Texas Longhorns in Austin. The Longhorns took the win 66-62 and the conference title in their first year in the SEC, moving over from the Big 12. The Longhorns also captured SEC Coach of the Year and Player of the Year honors for coach Vic Schaefer and sophomore Madison Booker. For the first time, the SEC tournament one seed, was decided by a coin flip as both the Longhorns and the Gamecocks were 15-1 on the regular season. The Gamecocks won the coin toss earning the top seed, but both teams received a first and second round bye. SEC Opening Round Led by Tennessee Defense The opening round of the SEC tournament went as expected with lower seeds knocking out higher seeds starting with the Tennessee Lady Vols (#9) crushing Texas A&M (#16) 77-37. The Lady Vols, known for their ever-rotating five substitution strategy and full game, full-court pressure defense caused the Aggies to commit 32 turnovers and shoot below 27% for the game. This was the eighth time this season that the Lady Vols have forced their opponents to 30 or more turnovers, tying a season record with the 1997-1998 squad, who also forced 30 or more turnovers eight times that season. In a close match-up for the second game on Wednesday, March 5, Georgia was able to pull away with a win against the Arkansas Razorbacks, 79-74. In the third game, Mississippi State (#10), easily slides past Missouri (#15) by a 20-point margin 75-55. And in the final game of the opening round, the Florida Gators (#11) push past the Auburn Tigers 60-50. MORE FOR YOU Daylight Saving Time: Clocks Spring One Hour Forward Tonight—As Trump Suggests He Won’t Change It 50,000 Russian Troops Have Deserted NYT ‘Mini’ Crossword Today: Clues And Answers For Saturday, March 8 GREENVILLE, SC - MARCH 05: Tennessee Volunteers guard Jewel Spear (0) reacts after making a three ... [+] point shot as time expired in the third quarter during the SEC women's college basketball tournament between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Tennessee Volunteers on March 5, 2025 at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images SEC Second Round Upsets by the Commodores and Gators The Lady Vols success was short lived, as Vanderbilt (#8) a team that has seemed to have their number this year dismantles Tennessee 84-76 on Thursday, March 6. Although Vanderbilt was the lower seed, Tennessee’s storied history and legacy, and their #18 national ranking had many expecting them to win this matchup. The Commodores created 21 second chance points, 42 points in the paint, and caused 21 turnovers for Tennessee in Thursday’s matchup. Vanderbilt’s offense was led by SEC Freshman of the Year Mikayla Blakes who contributed 24 points. Despite Tennessee’s improvements this year under first year head coach Kim Caldwell going 22-9 so far this season, the Lady Vols have not won the SEC since 2014, when Holly Warlick was the head coach, longtime assistant under Pat Summit. It will be interesting to see where the Lady Vols now fall in the NCAA seeding, a few weeks ago they were comfortably predicted to be in the top 16 and host, but late season losses to Kentucky and Georgia, and this loss in the second round of the SEC tournament has pushed them out of the conversation for a host site. Gators Shock the Tide Later in the evening on Thursday, the Florida Gators shockingly booted the Alabama Crimson Tide (#6) from the SEC tournament early, a team that was nationally ranked #19. The Gators were led by all scorer Liv McGill who had 29 points, scoring 11 of those points in the fourth quarter to secure the win. McGill was also assisted offensively in the win by Ra Shaya Kyle (12 points) and Laila Reynolds (10 points). McGill is having a sensational career as a Gator as she has hit double figures in 29 of her 32 outings. Despite the loss, Sarah Ashlee Barker put up 24 points and eight rebounds for the Crimson Tide. South Carolina and LSU Cruise to Semifinals In the quarterfinals on Friday, March 7, the lower seeds largely took care of higher seeds starting South Carolina (#1) demonstrating why they are one of the top contenders in the country defeating Vanderbilt, 84-63. The Gamecocks were led by Chloe Kitts who had 25 points, 10 rebounds, as well as crucial points off the bench from MiLaysia Fulwiley (SEC Sixth Woman of the Year) who contributed 15, Joyce Edwards with 12 points, and Sania Feagan who added 13 points. Despite the loss, Vanderbilt’s Blakes scored 20 points and Khamil Pierre had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Similarly, the LSU Tigers (#3) shut down the Gators tournament run on Friday night 101-87 despite the Gators having six players in double figure scoring with Alexia Dizekio (10 points), Ra Shaya Kyle (11), Liv McGill (16), Laila Reynolds (10), Jeriah Warren (14), and coming off the bench, Alexia Gassett contributed 13 points in the loss. However, the game truly belonged to Aneesah Morrow, recent SEC first team selection, who was in a league of her own last night scoring 36 points and 14 rebounds in her 34 minutes played. This was Morrow’s 101st career double-double and a season high for her this year. GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 07: Alexia Gassett #3 of the Florida Gators attempts a basket ... [+] against Aneesah Morrow #24 of the LSU Lady Tigers in the third quarter during the quarterfinal round of the SEC women's basketball tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 07, 2025 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) Getty Images Quarterfinals Exit for Amoore and Wildcats Perhaps the two closest games of the day on Friday during the quarterfinals were between Kentucky (#4) and Oklahoma (#5) and Texas (#2) and Ole Miss (#7). Starting with Kentucky and Oklahoma, the Wildcats went into the half leading 31-26 and started the second half leading by as many as 10, but went cold in the third quarter allowing Oklahoma back in the game. The Sooners outscored the Wildcats 24-18 in the third and 19 to 16 in the fourth quarter. Additionally, the Sooners out rebounded the Wildcats, had nine more assists, had four more points off turnovers, and committed seven less turnovers, especially during crucial periods in the second half. Raegan Beers led the way for the Sooners with 20 points and 11 rebounds with help from Payton Verhulst who added 16 points. Georgia Amoore led all scorers with 29 points for Kentucky in the loss. GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 07: Raegan Beers #52 of the Oklahoma Sooners dribbles against ... [+] Amelia Hassett #32 of the Kentucky Wildcats in the first quarter during the quarterfinal round of the SEC women's basketball tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 07, 2025 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) Getty Images Close Call for Texas, but Longhorns Hold on and Advance All signs pointed at the beginning of the game to the Texas Longhorns running away with a win over Ole Miss in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament. The Longhorns went into the half with a 40-33 lead over the Rebels, coupled with the Rebels losing their offense in the third quarter. The Rebels in the third quarter didn’t make a field goal for over eight minutes, missing 13 shots; it was in this quarter they were outscored 13-7 and trailed 53-40 going into the fourth. However, Ole Miss came storming back in the fourth quarter to cut Texas’ lead to three with less than three minutes left in the game. Unfortunately, for the Rebels untimely missed shots and having to foul at the end of the game allowed the Longhorns to squeeze by with a win despite their best player Madison Booker fouling out with a minute left. Booker would finish the night with 19 points and seven rebounds. The Rebels’ leading scorer came off the bench with KK Deans contributing 20 points in the loss. GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 07: Shay Holle #10 of the Texas Longhorns celebrate with ... [+] teammates against the Ole Miss Rebels in the third quarter during the quarterfinal round of the SEC women's basketball tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 07, 2025 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) Getty Images Semifinal games begin today starting with South Carolina (#1) playing Oklahoma (#5) at 4:30 pm EST on ESPN2, followed by Texas (#2) squaring off against LSU (#3) at 7 pm EST on ESPN2. More updates and news to come on all the women’s basketball Division I conference tournaments this weekend, continue to stay tuned. Follow me on Twitter. Editorial StandardsForbes Accolades