Te-Hina Paopao Stats Today - How did South Carolina star fare vs Iowa State? (Nov 28) 

Senior guard Te-Hina Paopao delivered an all-around performance as the No. 4 South Carolina Gamecocks cruised to a 76-36 victory over the No. 15 Iowa State Cyclones on Thursday night at the Fort Myers Tip-Off.

Paopao’s defensive intensity and playmaking were instrumental in the Gamecocks’ 40-point win. She finished with seven points, five rebounds, three steals and an assist while committing just one turnover as the team’s floor general.

South Carolina’s first half was its best of the season, sparked by a stifling defense that forced eight Iowa State (5-2) turnovers in the opening quarter. Paopao drained a three-pointer early and made her mark with a reverse layup that further widened the Gamecocks' lead over the Cyclones.

The Gamecocks’ dominance in transition translated to a blowout in the paint, outscoring Iowa State 42-14 inside.

“It is a privilege to coach Pao,” head coach Dawn Staley said via NewsPress.com. "When you have three pretty darn good point guards, you can’t go wrong. Pao, Raven [Johnson], Maddy [McDaniel], they do a great job at picking up where the other one left off. If one isn’t having that type of a game, they can see it and fill in for each other.

"Pao, her defense was more impressive to me than her ability to facilitate. I’ve seen her facilitate before. I’ve never seen her pick up 94 feet time and time again," she added.

The fifth-year senior has elevated her play this season, averaging 14.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 52.2% from the field and 50.0% from beyond the arc.

South Carolina demonstrates why it remains a powerhouse in women’s basketball

After losing its 43-game win streak to the UCLA Bruins on Sunday, South Carolina was searching for its offensive identity. Thursday’s matchup against No. 15 Iowa State showed significant progress.

The Gamecocks’ blistering defense stifled the Cyclones, making offense almost effortless. South Carolina went on a 32-0 run that spanned nearly 15 minutes, with contributions from eight different players. Quick ball movement and relentless transition play left Iowa State struggling to keep up.

At one point in the first half, the Cyclones endured a 15-minute scoring drought, shooting just 1-of-17 from the field and committing nine turnovers. By halftime, South Carolina led 35-9. The Gamecocks held Iowa State to 23% shooting (12 of 52) for the game and forced 19 turnovers.

South Carolina will conclude its time in Fort Myers — and close out November — with an 11:00 a.m. ET game against Purdue next on Saturday, taking a brief break from its stretch of four ranked opponents in five games.