Category: South Carolina Gamecocks

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — In a thrilling Sweet 16 matchup, No. 1 seed South Carolina emerged victorious over fourth-seeded Maryland, 71-67, thanks to a standout performance from MiLaysia Fulwiley, who scored 23 points, including a crucial go-ahead layup with 2:22 remaining. Chloe Kitts was also key, contributing 15 points and 11 rebounds in the win.

It was a back-and-forth battle throughout the game, with the defending national champions facing off against the Terrapins. However, South Carolina found their rhythm in the final minutes, securing the victory. The Gamecocks will now face Duke in the Elite Eight on Sunday after the Blue Devils defeated North Carolina 47-38 earlier that day.

South Carolina trailed 60-59 with 3:25 to go, but the Gamecocks held Maryland scoreless for the next three minutes. Fulwiley’s layup sparked a 7-0 run, and Kitts contributed three free throws while Fulwiley added a coast-to-coast score, giving South Carolina a 66-60 lead with just 25 seconds left. Although Maryland’s Saylor Poffenbarger hit a three-pointer to break the Terps’ scoring drought, South Carolina sealed the win by converting five of six free throws in the final moments, including two from Fulwiley with 10.9 seconds remaining, extending the lead to 71-65.

Maryland’s Kaylene Smikle led her team with 17 points before fouling out, but it wasn’t enough to overcome South Carolina’s strong finish.

Neither team could establish a consistent offensive flow through the first three quarters, with South Carolina trailing 43-39 late in the third. However, they closed out the period on a 13-7 run, capped by an incredible transition basket from Fulwiley, who made a behind-the-back move before hitting a pull-up jumper.

This was the second time the teams had met in the NCAA Tournament, with South Carolina having previously defeated Maryland 86-75 in last year’s Elite Eight.

Gamecock Highlights:

• South Carolina advances to its fifth consecutive Elite Eight, marking the eighth such appearance under Head Coach Dawn Staley and the ninth in program history.
• The Gamecocks’ bench continued to dominate, outscoring Maryland’s 40-14.
• South Carolina won the rebound battle 47-34 and played evenly with Maryland in the paint, 32-32. The Gamecocks are now 33-1 when tying or outscoring opponents in the paint.
• MiLaysia Fulwiley was just one point shy of her career high with 23, contributing 11 points in the decisive fourth quarter, pushing the Gamecocks’ lead to six with a minute remaining.
• Chloe Kitts had an explosive start, scoring 10 of her 15 points in the first five minutes and grabbing five of her 11 rebounds for her 11th double-double of the season.
• Sania Feagin chipped in with seven points, including two crucial free throws in the fourth quarter, keeping South Carolina ahead by six in the closing seconds.

This victory sets up a rematch with Duke, whom the Gamecocks defeated 81-70 in Columbia on December 5.

Live Update from Birmingham, Ala. — South Carolina Survives Maryland in Sweet 16 Thriller, 71-67

In a nail-biting Sweet 16 showdown, the South Carolina women’s basketball team narrowly triumphed over Maryland, securing a 71-67 victory. Despite their status as reigning national champions and entering the tournament as the top seed, the Gamecocks have found themselves in a familiar but uncomfortable position — trailing at halftime in both of their tournament wins.

After the win, the locker room felt more somber than expected. There was relief, but also a palpable sense of disappointment. Te-Hina Paopao, a senior guard, voiced the team’s feelings, saying, “Today felt like a loss to us.”

The Gamecocks, who finished the regular season with a mere three losses and an NCAA-best seven victories over top-10 teams, now find themselves in a more precarious spot. Sania Feagin, a senior forward, expressed concern, saying, “We’re down half the game, and we can’t do that anymore. It’s March.”

The win over Maryland marks South Carolina’s second consecutive tournament game in which they’ve trailed at halftime — down by two points at the break against the Terrapins, and just one against Indiana in the second round. Coach Dawn Staley knows her team must sharpen up, stating that the focus is on preparing and maintaining confidence.

Leading the charge for South Carolina was MiLaysia Fulwiley, the sophomore guard who came off the bench to score 23 points, just one shy of her career high. The Gamecocks are the nation’s leaders in bench points, averaging 41.5 per game. Fulwiley remarked after the game, “Every game I feel like I need to do more.”

With the win, the Gamecocks set their sights on their next challenge: the No. 2 seed Duke Blue Devils. After Duke’s 47-38 victory over North Carolina, South Carolina will face their toughest test yet in the Elite Eight on Sunday.

Stay tuned as the Gamecocks prepare for what will surely be another intense matchup.

The game was well out of reach for #1 South Carolina as they faced #16 Tennessee Tech, and by the third quarter, they were simply padding their stats. The outcome was never in question, but the opportunity for players to get some minutes was now at hand.

Adhel Tac had yet to step onto the court. The redshirt freshman post, who has had a challenging season, had been waiting for her chance. Head coach Dawn Staley had given some time to more experienced players like Maryam Dauda and Sakima Walker first, but now it was Tac’s turn to shine.

As Tac jogged to the scorer’s table, the buzzer sounded, and the crowd at Colonial Life Arena erupted in cheers. In the midst of the excitement, Tac nearly forgot to remove her shooting shirt, distracted by trying to figure out who she was replacing.

It didn’t matter, though—Tac was finally playing in an NCAA Tournament game.

“I was very excited,” Tac shared. “Less nervous, honestly. I really didn’t feel any nerves. For me, I was just really pumped up.”

This was technically Tac’s second NCAA Tournament appearance. Last year, she was a redshirt freshman, having enrolled in January to recover from a knee injury. Although she received a championship ring, this time she was on the court, ready to contribute.

“I’m really excited,” she said before the first-round game. “I was super excited last year, but it’s always different when you’re an active player. Last year was just that feeling of wanting to play, and now that I know I can actually participate, it’s really great.”

Tac wasted no time making an impact. Less than a minute after stepping onto the floor, she scored her first basket, causing the crowd to roar. A minute later, she caught a lob from freshman Maddy McDaniel and scored again, sending the fans into a frenzy.

“I didn’t have any expectations going into the game, didn’t have an idea of how many points I wanted to score, or rebounds, blocks, whatever,” Tac reflected. “I just wanted to be able to play my game and play good basketball. I’m really glad I was able to do that when I got in.”

Both Tac and McDaniel are excited about the future of their connection on the court.

“That’s actually the preferred pass for me,” Tac explained. “I like to catch a higher pass because I know that I can just try and get up and get it. Maddy threw the perfect pass. We’ve got a lot of those to come.”

Tac finished the game with six points and two rebounds in just five minutes of play, enough to earn her a spot in the postgame interview room, where only the game’s stars are typically called.

Tac is known as one of the more cerebral players on the team. She has a deep understanding of the game, always keeping up with the scouting reports and constantly communicating with teammates—even when she’s not on the floor.

Dawn Staley has often praised Tac for her intelligence on the court, even comparing her to Aliyah Boston. Tac’s understanding of the game is so sharp that she can explain complex concepts to sportswriters, which was part of why last season’s experience was so valuable for her.

“I wouldn’t probably have considered just how much it takes to get to (a championship),” Tac said. “I’m really grateful that I actually got to experience having a national championship run because now I know what it consists of and what it takes and what I need to bring out of myself and my teammates to win.”

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – The South Carolina Gamecocks are headed to Birmingham, preparing to face the Maryland Terrapins in their 11th consecutive Sweet Sixteen appearance.

The Gamecocks will meet a familiar opponent in Maryland, with the two teams having faced off just two years ago in the Elite Eight, where South Carolina emerged victorious, 86-75.

Coming off a hard-fought win against Indiana in the Round of 32, South Carolina showed resilience despite struggling to score for much of the game, particularly in the first half. The Gamecocks were able to secure a 64-53 victory, showcasing their depth, which proved too much for the Hoosiers to handle. Bree Hall, Chloe Kitts, and Sania Feagin were key contributors, helping push the team past Indiana.

Now, the Gamecocks are looking to get their leading scorers—Joyce Edwards and MiLaysia Fulwiley—back on track after both had a quiet outing in the win over Indiana. While South Carolina’s depth is strong enough to handle tough opponents, they’re at their best when Edwards and Fulwiley are firing on all cylinders.

One player to watch closely in this upcoming game is Chloe Kitts. The forward has been clutch all season and has elevated her performance even further as the postseason has progressed. Kitts recorded her 10th double-double of the season in Sunday’s win, contributing seven of her 10 points in a critical stretch during the third quarter, along with 11 rebounds.

As for Maryland, the Terrapins are coming off a dramatic victory in which they rallied from a 17-point deficit to defeat Alabama 111-108 in a double-overtime thriller. This victory sent Maryland to their fourth Sweet Sixteen appearance in the last five years and marked the second-largest comeback in NCAA tournament history for the Terrapins.

Maryland’s offensive attack is led by a dynamic trio: Sarah Te-Biasu, Kaylene Smikle, and Shyanne Sellers, who combined for an impressive 78 points in the win over Alabama. Smikle, who leads the team in scoring with 18 points per game on 45% shooting, has been especially effective during the postseason, averaging 22.2 points so far in the tournament. Sellers, who is second on the team in scoring and leads in assists, is a major threat due to her three-point shooting, hitting 41% from beyond the arc. Te-Biasu is another deep threat, hitting an incredible 45% of her threes, and averaging 10.6 points.

With Maryland’s guards being a central part of their offensive strategy, South Carolina will focus on containing their elite backcourt. The Gamecocks will also look to exploit Maryland’s interior defense, where South Carolina holds an advantage in both frontcourt and backcourt depth. The Terrapins’ key forwards, Allie Kubek and Christina Dalce, are solid in the paint but represent the bulk of Maryland’s rebounding efforts. If South Carolina can get Kubek and Dalce into foul trouble, it could swing the game in their favor.

The highly anticipated Sweet Sixteen showdown is set to tip off at 5:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN.

Stay tuned to WIS for live updates during the game via our live blog. Don’t miss out on the action!

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In a highly anticipated Sweet Sixteen matchup, the South Carolina Gamecocks are poised as the heavy favorite to take on Maryland in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament this Friday. South Carolina heads into the game as the clear favorite, with Maryland coming off a thrilling overtime victory against Alabama that kept their hopes alive.

Both teams have shown their resilience throughout the season, picking up significant wins along the way, and both will be battle-tested as they face off in this crucial contest. But what do the experts think about this matchup?

ESPN recently revealed its predictions for the game, and the Gamecocks were a unanimous choice across the board. Here’s how the experts see it:

• Andrea Adelson: South Carolina 70, Maryland 55
• Kendra Andrews: South Carolina 73, Maryland 59
• Katie Barnes: South Carolina 75, Maryland 59
• Charlie Creme: South Carolina 68, Maryland 47
• Kevin Pelton: South Carolina 84, Maryland 68
• Alexa Philippou: South Carolina 81, Maryland 67
• Michael Voepel: South Carolina 85, Maryland 70

One of the key reasons behind this overwhelming support for South Carolina comes from ESPN’s Charlie Creme, who highlighted the Gamecocks’ depth as a major advantage in their tournament run. “Depth. Having the ability to play as many as 10 players, use multiple combinations, and rely on the most productive bench in the country gives Dawn Staley a game-planning advantage,” Creme explained. “She can pivot off what isn’t working until she finds what does. From fifth-year senior Te-Hina Paopao to freshman Joyce Edwards, seven different players led the Gamecocks in scoring in a game this season. At some point this tournament, the Gamecocks will need that one individual to step up for a big moment. That time isn’t now.”

As the Gamecocks prepare for this highly anticipated showdown, they’ll rely on their depth and versatility to push them through to the Elite Eight.

Stay tuned for more updates on this thrilling tournament journey and follow our coverage with the latest insights from Fisher Brewer, Alex Joyce, Matthew Peavy, Isaiah Collins, Joseph Griffin, Luke Brumm, and more. Don’t forget to follow us on social media and check out our YouTube channel for in-depth video content!

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Dawn Staley, head coach of South Carolina women’s basketball, has been named a finalist for the Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year award for the eighth time in her career. The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today that Staley is one of the four finalists for this prestigious honor, marking her as the only coach in the history of the award—men’s or women’s basketball—to win it four times. Notably, Staley has claimed the award for the past three seasons.

Under Staley’s leadership, the Gamecocks secured both the SEC Regular-Season and Tournament titles, sweeping both for the third consecutive season and for the seventh time in the past 11 years. After crafting the toughest schedule in the nation, as per the NET rankings, she guided South Carolina to its fourth straight 30-win season and the eighth such campaign in her 17 seasons in Columbia.

With 19 Quad 1 games—the most in the country—South Carolina has proven their strength, including six non-conference regular-season matchups. The Gamecocks also lead the nation with 16 Quad 1 wins.

In addition, South Carolina has secured 12 victories over ranked opponents, including an NCAA-best seven wins over top-10 teams. Remarkably, the Gamecocks have won these games by an average of 20 points, with only one game decided by fewer than 10 points.

Staley’s success has been driven by a collective team effort. The Gamecocks rank 11th nationally in points per game, with their leading scorer averaging just 13.2 points per game. In total, seven players average at least 7.0 points per game, and the team’s bench leads the nation in scoring at 41.5 points per game.

No. 2/2 South Carolina has earned the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Birmingham 2 Regional and made its 11th consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 appearance after a pair of wins last weekend at Colonial Life Arena. They will return to the court on Friday, March 28, against the winner of tonight’s game between No. 4 seed Maryland and No. 5 seed Alabama.

For more updates, be sure to visit GamecocksOnline.com and follow the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB).

Naismith Coach of the Year Finalists:

• Mark Campbell, TCU
• Cori Close, UCLA
• Lindsay Gottlieb, Southern Cal
• Dawn Staley, South Carolina

After securing a victory over Indiana in the Round of 32, South Carolina had to wait 24 hours to learn who their next opponent would be in the Sweet 16. That opponent has now been confirmed: Maryland, following an exhilarating 111-108 double-overtime win over Alabama on Monday.

Maryland entered the fourth quarter down 64-55 and faced a tough challenge to stay alive in the NCAA Tournament. However, the Terrapins surged, outscoring Alabama 56-44 through the final quarter and overtime to clinch their spot in the Sweet 16.

Maryland is known for leaning on its dynamic guard trio for offensive production. Kaylene Smikle, Shyanne Sellers, and Sarah Te-Biasu have all averaged over 10 points per game this season, making them key targets for South Carolina’s defense on March 28.

The two teams last met in a regular-season matchup in November 2023, where South Carolina dominated Maryland in a 114-76 blowout. Seven Gamecocks finished in double digits during that game, with Te-Hina Paopao leading the charge with 14 points.

The Sweet 16 matchup between South Carolina and Maryland is set to tip off at 5:00 pm (ET) on ESPN.

Stay updated on all things Gamecocks:

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• Follow Matthew Peavy on Twitter: @TheMattPeavy
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To keep up with our future coverage, click “Follow” at the top right corner of the page. Also, don’t forget to follow us on X at @GamecocksDigest and on Facebook!

In a live update, Maryam Dauda is radiating with happiness. She’s thrilled to be in Columbia, ecstatic to be a student at South Carolina, proud to be a Gamecock, and, most importantly, overjoyed to be playing in her first NCAA Tournament. Simply put, she’s just happy.

Dauda spent three years at Arkansas, her home-state school, where her journey was filled with challenges and growth. After missing her first season due to injury, she became a starter by her redshirt sophomore year. She played 30 minutes per game and led the SEC in blocks during conference play. Despite these achievements, something didn’t quite feel right. While she has no ill feelings toward her time at Arkansas, it’s clear Dauda is in a better place now.

“I’m a lot more happier,” Dauda shared. “I feel like I’m on a team where everybody just wants to win. You don’t have a person that’s like, oh, I wanna win or whatever. Collectively everybody’s wanting to win and just get to the next game.”

For many players, the transition from starting every game and averaging nearly 30 minutes to only playing 6 minutes, often in garbage time, could be difficult. But not for Dauda. For her, it’s not about the minutes on the court—it’s about the support and unity she feels from her teammates and coaches.

“It’s been everything I hoped it would be and more,” Dauda said. “I’m just taking one game at a time and just being in the present and just taking everything in and learning as I’m going. I’m learning from my teammates and learning from my coaches and just taking everything in.”

In her first season at Arkansas, the team made the NCAA Tournament, but lost in the first round to Utah. That experience, however, doesn’t compare to the feeling Dauda had when she checked into her first tournament game with South Carolina this past Friday.

“Excited, more relieved, I should say,” Dauda expressed after the game. “I just feel free, just going out there and playing, but I feel excited. I’m just moving on to the next round.”

In the fourth quarter against Tennessee Tech, every Gamecock except Dauda had scored. Coach Dawn Staley put Dauda in the game, and everyone knew she needed a basket. While Dauda didn’t force anything, her teammates made sure the moment came to her.

“I think it happened because we were kind of talking about it on the bench,” Dauda explained. “I was like, let it just flow and I don’t want anybody to force it. Then (MiLaysia Fulwiley) just kind of saw the opportunity to pass me the ball and it just happened.”

Dauda, set to graduate with a degree in economics this spring, is eligible for the WNBA Draft, but she’s content where she is right now. “I’m definitely coming back for sure,” Dauda confirmed. “I’m coming back for sure.”

She also has big plans for the future—hoping to start her own international fashion line. A master’s degree in economics will help her reach that goal.

“Yes, that’s the goal,” she said. “That’s still the goal. But wherever that takes me, it takes me.”

For now, her focus is on the Sweet 16 in Birmingham, where the Gamecocks are headed next.

Breaking news from South Carolina football—another non-conference game has been finalized for the 2027 season.

*Furman*, an FCS school based in Greenville, confirmed on Monday that it will face the *Gamecocks* in a road game at *Williams-Brice Stadium* on *September 4, 2027*.

This matchup rounds out South Carolina’s non-conference schedule for that season, according to *FBSchedules.com*. In addition to *Furman*, USC is also slated to face *Appalachian State* on *September 11* and travel to *Miami* on *September 18*, with their traditional rivalry game against *Clemson* set for *November 27*.

Under the current scheduling plan for 2027, the *USC-Furman* game will likely be the Gamecocks’ second game of the season. Should South Carolina open the season on the road or at a neutral site, this game will also serve as their home opener for the year.

With four conference games now scheduled for 2027, the addition of *Furman* all but confirms that USC will begin the season facing an *SEC* opponent.

The rivalry between *Furman* and South Carolina dates back to 1892, with the two teams having played a total of 50 games. Their most recent meeting was in 2023, where the Gamecocks secured a dominant *47-21* victory. Over the past 15 matchups, *South Carolina* has won 14, with 13 of those victories coming by double digits. The lone *Furman* victory since 1949 came in *1982*. The 2027 meeting will be just the fourth matchup this century, following previous games in *2010*, *2014*, and *2023*.

The Gamecocks ended the 2024 season with a strong *9-4* record, achieving a high ranking of No. *13* in the *AP Top 25* and No. *14* in the *College Football Playoff Top 25*. Under *fifth-year coach Shane Beamer*, South Carolina is currently in the midst of their 2025 spring practice.

Looking ahead, here’s a quick rundown of South Carolina’s non-conference opponents for the next five seasons:

 

– **2025**: vs. *Virginia Tech* in Atlanta, vs. *SC State*, vs. *Coastal Carolina*, vs. *Clemson*

– **2026**: vs. *Miami*, vs. *Towson*, at *Clemson*

– **2027**: vs. *Furman*, vs. *Appalachian State*, at *Miami*, vs. *Clemson*

– **2028**: vs. *UNC*, vs. *Wofford*, at *Clemson*

– **2029**: at *UNC*, vs. *Appalachian State*, vs. *Clemson*

 

This story was first reported on *March 24, 2025, at 11:24 AM*.

While the No. 1 ranked South Carolina women’s basketball team remains focused on the present, Friday’s dominant 60-point victory provided a clear look at the future.

The Gamecocks (31-3) cruised to a 108-48 win over No. 16 seed Tennessee Tech in their NCAA Tournament opener. The win was so decisive that head coach Dawn Staley had the opportunity to rotate in different lineups, giving more playing time to players who’ve typically been on the bench.

South Carolina’s bench set a new NCAA record with 66 points, the highest total since 2000. Every player who stepped onto the court contributed to the score, with all seven reserves scoring more than the entire Tennessee Tech team, which posted 48 points.

“It’s cool to see young people tap into the game even if they’re not promised any playing time,” Staley said.

Looking ahead, South Carolina will take on No. 9 Indiana (20-12) in the second round on Sunday.

Bench Players Shine

The Gamecocks’ bench has been a standout all season, leading the country in scoring at 41.5 points per game. What’s notable is that the top two bench scorers, Joyce Edwards and MiLaysia Fulwiley, don’t start. Edwards, a freshman, led the charge with 22 points in Friday’s win and is averaging 13.2 points per game. Fulwiley, a sophomore, is just behind with 12 points per game, contributing 15 points in the blowout.

As South Carolina loses key starters like Sania Feagin, Bree Hall, and Te-Hina Paopao at the season’s end, Edwards, Fulwiley, and Tessa Johnson are expected to step into starting roles.

For freshman point guard Maddy McDaniel, her future role as a starter or sixth man depends on Raven Johnson, a redshirt junior, who has yet to announce if she will return for another year. In the 18 minutes Staley gave McDaniel in the lineup Friday, the freshman showed maturity and poise, thriving in the tempo Tennessee Tech set. While Johnson isn’t a primary scorer, her ability to run the offense is crucial. McDaniel doesn’t need to rack up points—she simply needs to manage the game and maintain control.

“In our roles, it’s hard because we are point guards,” Johnson said. “We’re supposed to be like another Staley on the court. She has to trust us. McDaniel is really good for a freshman. I remember my freshman year, we didn’t play like that, so her getting these minutes now is phenomenal. The stuff that she does, I’m like, ‘Wow, how do you see this as a freshman?’”

A Glimpse into the Future

McDaniel delivered a perfect lob to 6-foot-7 Adhel Tac in the post, leading to a beautiful score. After the play, Tac pointed at McDaniel in appreciation.

“Maddy has always been there, it’s just playing time,” Staley said. “When Raven is playing well and Te-Hina is playing well, it’s hard because the other guards have to get the minutes they’ve earned all season long. Maddy stays ready. Anytime her number is called, she’s ready.”

Despite averaging just 3.9 minutes per game, Tac contributed 6 points in 5 minutes on Friday. McDaniel had 2 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds, while Maryam Dauda added 4 points, and Tessa Johnson scored 11.

Friday’s explosive bench performance gave a sneak peek at what’s to come for South Carolina. With such confident and mature play, Staley might have more depth than she initially thought as the Gamecocks pursue a back-to-back national title.