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UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Alissa Pili's career performance wasn't enough in the end.
In a neutral-court battle at the Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Showcase against No. 1 South Carolina, the 11th-ranked Utes kept the game close, but the Gamecocks did a little more to earn a 78-69 victory and to remain undefeated.
Pili couldn't be contained in the first half and scored 21 points — 16 consecutive Utah points — before she picked up her third foul with 4:44 left in the second quarter and was forced to watch from the bench. South Carolina (9-0) had no answer for Pili as a result of being in foul trouble for much of that second quarter.
But in Pili's absence, Utah (8-2) struggled to find an answer on the offensive side of the ball and went nearly six minutes without a field goal to closeout the half.
Fortunately for Utah, South Carolina went on a nearly five-minute stretch without a field goal before closing out the half on a quick 6-0 run to control a 41-34 lead at the break.
Utah and South Carolina continued to exchange small runs in the second half, with Utah winning the third quarter 23-21. South Carolina's Kamilla Cardoso was too much in the post, though, and willed the Gamecocks to a win with a team-high 17 points and six rebounds.
Te-Hina Paopao, who finished with 15 points, made several big plays in the final quarter to stave off a Utah push. MiLaysia Fulwiley and Chloe Kitts each added 11 points in the win.
After a back-and-forth affair to start the game, South Carolina jumped to an 11-point lead in the first quarter behind a 78% shooting performance from the field. The hot shooting cooled off a bit, but the Gamecocks managed to keep the lead.
Outside of Pili, Utah settled for ill-advised and rushed shots that were off the mark, and missed several close shots at the rim.
For as dominant as Pili was on offense, Jenna Johnson delivered on the defensive end. The veteran forward was a big catalyst in forcing South Carolina into foul trouble and drew four charging calls alone in the first half, frustrating several bigs, including South Carolina's Cardoso, who had 7 first-half points before going to the bench with two fouls.
Johnson finished with 7 points, seven rebounds and five assists before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.
Dasia Young, who started in Utah's lineup in the absence of veteran guard Gianna Kneepkens, was the only other player for the Utes to finish in double figures with 12 points and six rebounds.
