COLUMBIA — Following a loss to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) for the first time this season, South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley made a strategic move by benching Madina Okot from the starting lineup. Despite this change, Okot still managed to contribute significantly in a 103-74 victory against No. 4 Vanderbilt on January 25.

Okot scored 17 points in the game, showcasing her ability to impact the game even without being in the starting five. “Madina is not the scapegoat at all,” Staley said. “It was totally giving her a look at the game. Just take a little bit of pressure off of her, because we’re putting her in situations that we have had (previous) players build to those moments.”

To fill Okot’s spot, freshman Agot Makeer started in a four-guard lineup. Okot, who was 8-of-9 from the floor with seven rebounds and five steals, had previously struggled in a loss to No. 16 Oklahoma on January 22, scoring just six points.

Staley explained that legendary players like A’ja Wilson and Aaliyah Boston didn’t have to dominate as freshmen or in Okot’s case, during their first year with the team after transferring. Okot had started for Mississippi State last year, but the expectations were different.

“I know she felt better that she wasn’t in at the beginning of the game, she could see how they were playing, what they might do, get her mind ready to play,” Staley said. “Sometimes that’s all some players need is a different look at it.”

Wilson started in her first exhibition game as a freshman in 2014 but didn’t start in a real game until her sophomore year. “The entire crowd anticipated (Wilson) coming in and just doing all the things that she would normally do if she was a starter,” Staley said. “We just kind of took a page out of that book to make sure Madina gives us something.”

Okot struggled in her previous game against Oklahoma, shooting 3-of-9 from the floor with four rebounds and three turnovers. However, in the game against Vanderbilt, she showed signs of improvement.

Okot checked in with 5:23 left in the first quarter and quickly made an impact. She stole the ball less than 20 seconds later, dribbling down the court as two Vanderbilt guards caught up with her. They kicked the ball back to Ta’Niya Latson at the 3-point line, who then passed it back inside to Okot. She made the layup through contact.

“Madina played extremely well,” Latson said. “She went out there and she got back to herself.”

Latson’s short jumper with 1:30 left in the first quarter rolled out, and Okot caught the rebound, keeping it high in her hands and getting the putback layup plus the foul.

“I feel like it was a different presence for (Okot) out there,” said guard Tessa Johnson. “That’s the Madina that we’ve been missing, and I think she really picked it up. It was good for her and the team.”

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X @Lulukesin and Bluesky‪@bylulukesin.bsky.social‬