No. 1 South Carolina women win 23rd straight by beating No. 12 Texas A&M

Mikiah Herbert Harrigan didn't ever really want to leave South Carolina, no matter what she thought after last season.

Herbert Harrigan was torn between wondering what her role would be among the Gamecocks' highly regarded incoming freshman class and her love of the program.

"I knew in my heart I wanted to be here," Herbert Harrigan said Sunday.

So, after a heart-to-heart with coach Dawn Staley, Herbert Harrigan changed her mind — a decision that has turned into everything she and No. 1 South Carolina could've hoped for.

Herbert Harrigan had 20 points as the Gamecocks won their program-record 23rd straight game and completed a perfect 16-0 run through the Southeastern Conference regular season with a 60-52 victory over No. 12 Texas A&M.

Herbert Harrigan, the 6-foot-2 senior who was a reserve on the 2017 national champions, simply needed reassurance from Staley about her place in the program.

She's done the rest, rising to the team's leading scorer and becoming a touchstone during difficult runs.

That happened quickly against the Aggies (22-6, 10-6 SEC) as she scored the team's first 13 points while her teammates were struggling to find their shots.

"I knew when she scored the first nine we'd just get it to her," Staley said.

The Gamecocks (29-1, 16-0 SEC) were only ahead 34-28 early in the third quarter before going on a 14-3 surge to take control for good.

South Carolina finished off the fourth 16-0 SEC season in league history and became the first team to do it twice since the conference supersized the schedule before the 2009-10 season. The victory also broke the school mark for consecutive wins when the 2014-15 Gamecocks started 22-0 to reach No. 1. Like that group that reached the Final Four, this South Carolina roster has aspirations far beyond regular-season honors.

The Gamecocks head to the SEC Tournament next week as the top-seed and runaway favorite to win it for the fifth time in seven seasons.

Herbert Harrigan is a big reason for those expectations. She had tears in her eyes during her Senior Day tribute, then channeled that emotion into her game.

Herbert Harrigan had her team's first 13 points and reached 17 by the break. She also had eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals.

When Herbert Harrigan came out with 1:15 to go, she got a standing ovation from the crowd.