Maryam Dauda's contributions extend beyond box score numbers in SEC Tournament semifinal victory

Points, rebounds and assists. When it comes to evaluating individual basketball players’ performances, these three metrics are king. More often than not, those who score the most points, grab the most rebounds and provide the most assists to their teammates play the largest role in dictating the outcomes of the games they play in.

But, like all things in life, there are always exceptions. Exhibit A: Maryam Dauda in South Carolina’s SEC Tournament semifinal matchup against Oklahoma on Saturday.

When it was all said and done, Dauda played just 12 minutes in the contest, the third-fewest of any Gamecock player who took the court. She totaled five points and three rebounds while shooting 1-3 from the floor and 3-4 from the charity stripe. In a sense, she did the exact opposite of padding her stat sheet.

However, the impact she had in those 12 minutes cannot be brushed aside simply because of her lack of playing time. Dauda’s contributions when she was in the game, whether she was generating turnovers or stifling her opposition, played a valuable role in what would eventually be a 93-75 win for South Carolina.

“I just felt like I had to be ready. I feel like Coach (Dawn Staley) and my teammates and the whole coaching staff were confident in me,” Dauda said. “Whenever my number was called, I was ready to go.”

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Dauda initially entered the contest at the 4:11 mark in the first quarter, subbing in for Chloe Kitts. Within a minute of the game, Dauda, tasked with being a physical presence in the paint, had already drawn a foul. But on the ensuing inbound, she earned a steal and kickstarted the Gamecocks’ next offensive possession. The ball eventually made its way to Joyce Edwards, who sinked a bucket to give South Carolina an early 17-8 lead.

“The last time we plated Oklahoma, she did a pretty good job,” Staley said. “Coming into this game, we knew that we had that in the back pocket.”

The next time she entered the game towards the end of the second period, Dauda had one of the busiest 40-second stretches of her career.

She grabbed an offensive rebound from a missed three-pointer by Tessa Johnson during a possession that resulted in a set of free throws for MiLaysia Fulwiley. On the other end of the floor, Dauda batted away an errant pass by Raegan Beers, resulting in a steal. Dauda finished the play with a made layup.

That wouldn’t be the only time she created problems for Beers, the Sooners’ lone All-SEC First Team selection this year. Later in the quarter, Dauda blocked one of Beers’ shots out of bounds. She also baited Beers into committing a frustration foul after the two fought for a rebound.

Heading into Saturday’s semifinal, Beers had been averaging 21.0 points per game and shooting 59.3% (17-26) from the floor in SEC Tournament play. She mustered just seven points on 2-10 shooting against the Gamecocks.

Dauda said her trust in her teammates helped her remain calm and composed during her physical battles with Beers in the paint.

“Knowing that they would be there behind me to get the ball, even when I’m fighting and everything,” Dauda said. “Having my feet ready, and also, following Sania (Feagin)‘s and Chloe’s footsteps.”

Even after all that second-quarter action, she still was not done. Dauda picked up another steal with five seconds remaining in the half. The play ultimately did not result in any points, as Fulwiley narrowly missed a buzzer-beating layup. It did, howeve,r cap off a nine-minute period where Dauda had the highest plus-minus (+17) of any South Carolina player.

By game’s end, that number grew to +18 – still the highest individual point differential for South Carolina. She also generated three total steals, compared to turning over the ball just once.

Dauda and Edwards have developed a close relationship as their first season with the Gamecock women’s basketball program has gone along. Edwards said Dauda’s performance is indicative of the hard work she show has shown each day in practice.

“She’s one of the first ones on the court, one of the last ones out of the gym,” Edwards said. “She comes into practice every day. She works hard, 100%, no matter how much playing time she gets. And today, it showed.”

The best of Dauda donning a garnet and black uniform is yet to come, Staley said. As far as today goes, though, she is proud of Dauda’s performance off the bench.

“It surely is great to just have her for her confidence to come in the game and impact. Because she came in the game, impacted, drew some fouls on Beers, played really tough,” Staley said. “I think she had family members here that had a chance to see her play live and do well.”

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