Fulwiley records 24 points in 82-54 victory against Vanderbilt

South Carolina Dominates Vanderbilt 82-54 for Second Straight Win

The sixth-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks cruised to an 82-54 victory over Vanderbilt on Sunday, securing their second consecutive win. Leading the charge was MiLaysia Fulwiley, who matched her career-high with 24 points, helping propel South Carolina to a commanding win.

With this victory, the Gamecocks improved to an impressive 25-3 overall and 13-1 in the Southeastern Conference. They also extended their dominance over Vanderbilt, winning their 17th consecutive game in this matchup, with the Commodores’ last win dating back to January 27, 2011, in Columbia.

Joining Fulwiley in the scoring effort, Joyce Edwards contributed 17 points and 12 rebounds, securing her third double-double of the season. Te-Hina Paopao added 13 points and dished out four assists. South Carolina was relentless, showing off their depth as 11 of the 12 players who took the court scored.

For Vanderbilt, the loss marks their second straight after Mikayla Blakes set the NCAA freshman single-game scoring record with 55 points at Auburn. Blakes scored 19 points in today’s matchup, while Khamil Pierre recorded a solid 14 points and 10 rebounds.

From the opening tip, South Carolina was in control. Paopao scored the first seven points for the Gamecocks, and they never looked back, holding a 24-11 lead after the first quarter. Although Vanderbilt tried to rally, outscoring South Carolina 14-11 in the second quarter, the Gamecocks still led comfortably at halftime, 35-25.

The third quarter saw South Carolina assert its dominance, outscoring Vanderbilt 21-12 and extending the lead to 56-37. It was clear that the Gamecocks’ depth and defensive intensity were too much for the Commodores.

The Gamecocks were particularly strong in the paint, outscoring Vanderbilt 48-16 in that area, and their bench continued to shine. South Carolina’s reserves tallied 56 points, surpassing Vanderbilt’s total team score of 54, and continuing their trend of bench dominance for the ninth time this season and the second consecutive game.

South Carolina also imposed its will defensively, forcing Vanderbilt into 17 turnovers while only committing 13. Additionally, the Gamecocks showcased their fast break efficiency, outscoring the Commodores 19-0 in that department.

Fulwiley’s 24 points included a stellar 15-point first half on 6-of-9 shooting in just 13 minutes. Her performance marks the second-most points for a Gamecock this season. Edwards dominated the boards, grabbing a career-high 10 offensive rebounds, with eight coming in the first half, and she was perfect in the third quarter, shooting 3-for-3 from the floor and 5-for-5 from the free-throw line.

Paopao played a key role early, scoring the first seven points of the game and finishing with 13 points, four assists, and a career-high tying three steals in SEC play.

As the Gamecocks head into their next matchup, it’s clear their balanced offensive and defensive efforts will continue to make them a tough contender in the SEC.