Teonni Key had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Cats, who were playing their third game in three days. Clara Strack scored 11 points and Asia Boone added 10.
Kentucky (23-10) scored the first three points on a Tonie Morgan layup and a Boone free throw. South Carolina responded by scoring nine straight to lead by six. A Hassett three cut the deficit in half but South Carolina scored four in a row to lead 13-6.
Strack got on the board to cut the deficit to five before a South Carolina free throw made it 14-8. UK got a three from Boone and a Key layup to get within one, but the Gamecocks hit a three to lead by four. A Morgan free throw cut the deficit to 17-14, but the Gamecocks finished the quarter on a 5-2 run and they led 22-16 after one quarter.
South Carolina scored the first seven points of the second quarter before Hassett hit a three and Strack hit a jump shot to cut the deficit to 29-21. However, the Gamecocks scored the next 11 to lead 40-21.
Kentucky would get baskets from Jordan Obi, Key and Morgan late, but South Carolina led 44-27 at the half.
Key scored the first two points of the third quarter but South Carolina scored the next seven to lead 51-29. Strack scored for the Cats, but the Gamecocks answered with a basket of their own before Obi got loose underneath and scored, cutting the deficit to 53-33. South Carolina scored the next six points.
Threes from Key and Strack cut the deficit to 59-39, but South Carolina went on a 9-4 run to lead by 25. The Gamecocks led 68-45 after three quarters.
In the fourth quarter, Kentucky would chip away at the lead, but they were only able to get within 19 points.
Kentucky will have the next week off as the Cats wait to find out their NCAA Tournament destination. That will happen on Sunday, March 15 during the NCAA Tournament Selection Show.