MiLaysia Fulwiley shines in close South Carolina win over Maryland

South Carolina overcame its second straight halftime deficit in the NCAA Tournament in a 71-67 win over the Maryland Terrapins.

The game wasn’t the best all-around performance for the Gamecocks. Only two players reached double figures in points, and the team as a whole shot 32.4% from the field.

However, for MiLaysia Fulwiley, it was a NCAA Tournament career high in points.

“It’s really great to watch Lay do her thing,” Adhel Tac said. “…I’m really glad we have her on our side…Lay put us on her back throughout the game.”

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Fulwiley’s 23 points on 52% shooting led the Gamecocks to the tight win. The closest South Carolina player in points — and the only other to score in double figures — was Chloe Kitts with 15. Kitts scored the opening 10 points of the game for the Gamecocks before Fulwiley scored the next seven.

Most of Fulwiley’s scoring came from blowing past the Terrapin defense in the paint. There are times where she catches the ball and could shoot a quick three but chooses not to, according to Tac. That kind of decision-making showcases Fulwiley’s growth, she said.

“She’s now analyzing the defense, attacking closeouts, finding gaps,” Tac said. “And a lot of the time, whenever she’s going to the basket, primarily she’s not even looking for herself … As long as we’re able to move those numbers on the board, it doesn’t matter how we do it to her. I feel like that’s just a really great quality she has.”

Dawn Staley concurs on Fulwiley’s development. There was a moment in Friday’s game where Staley said she laid into her big time, and she was able to mentally recover from it and lock in.

“Two months ago she wouldn’t be able to recover from it,” Staley said. “Two months ago. Shut down, we probably would have lost the game because she was the only one that could really manufacture our shots and make baskets. But she just wants to win. I think in those moments is when I feel like I can coach her the most, where she’ll listen the most.

An example of that analysis came during Friday’s contest on a play where Fulwiley got a behind-the-back assist to Paopao.

“I kinda seen a double team a little bit once I crossed the half-court line on my transition moves. So that let me know someone was open,” Fulwiley said.

Fulwiley’s afternoon really got going late in the third quarter. After scoring the final points of the third to give the Gamecocks the lead, she scored the opening five of the fourth.

On the whole, Fulwiley scored 13 of South Carolina’s final 19 points, shooting 75% from the field in the game’s final half.

Still, Fulwiley wouldn’t be the one to admit she took over the game.

“I think I would say I honestly just went out there and tried to help my team get closer to our next goal, the Elite Eight,” Fulwiley said. “And I think I did that well.”

Te-Hina Paopao, however, would.

“She came up really big for us, and I’m just overwhelmed and very happy,” Paopao said. “I mean, she does it in practice, and you see that transition into a big game. It’s really cool to see.”

Tac said the gameplan remained the same when Fulwiley started to heat up late.

“Honestly, our gameplan was still the same,” Tac said. “But, you know, obviously we looked to Lay more because she was providing more stuff for us. The things that she does not many can do and I feel like whenever Lay gets in her zone, we can’t help but play up to how she’s playing and follow her lead.”

Raven Johnson took that thought a step further.

“Why wouldn’t you want the ball in her hands,” Johnson said. “Just, stuff she does, it’s magical. Like, you just can not stop her, like she is unstoppable. Just get her the ball and let her cook.”

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