South Carolina women's basketball: MiLaysia Fulwiley and Chloe Kitts help the Gamecocks pull away in the second half

South Carolina got off to another sluggish start but turned up the energy in the second half to pull away from Coppin State for a 92-60  win.

It’s become standard procedure for the Gamecocks this season: start slow, shoot poorly, and turn the ball over while Chloe Kitts keeps the game close. 

Kitts scored eight of the first ten points for South Carolina, which missed six of its first nine shots. 

“At times we’re not very disciplined,” Dawn Staley said. “I’m used to us being a lot more disciplined than we’re playing with in longer stretches. And then when we get up by a big lead I’d rather us not try to do things to please the crowd.”

The Gamecocks fell behind 16-13 before the Gamecock bench sparked a 12-0 run that put South Carolina in front for good. MiLaysia Fulwiley, Joyce Edwards, and Maryam Dauda scored eight of the 12 points during the run.

“We know each other and we believe in each other,” Fulwiley said. “When we don’t start the game good we don’t hold our heads or try to put each other down. We try to lift each other up and that’s the biggest thing in basketball is you lift each other up and be there for your teammates.”

[STOP! Don’t rely on search engines and social media for YOUR South Carolina WBB info. Sign up for the free GamecocksW newsletter.]

South Carolina locked in defensively in the second quarter, twice holding Coppin State to a single field goal over a six-minute span. An 11-0 run in the third quarter made it a 20-point game. Fulwiley and Kitts continued to pour it on to push the lead to 30.

Kitts finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, giving her two double-doubles in two games. She shot 8-10, making all seven of her two-point attempts.

“I feel really confident,” Kitts said. “I just feel more confident day by day. The offseason for me was staying in the weight room. I spend more time in the weight room than I do getting up extra work.”

Fulwiley scored 23 points on 8-13 shooting, including 4-7 from three. She was just one point shy of her career-high set against LSU in the SEC championship game, and had a basket wiped out on a questionable charge call. 

“When I think about it it never turns out right,” Fulwiley said. “I don’t really try to put on a show. I just try to go out there and make the right play and sometimes I add a little bit of spice to it.”

Fulwiley also had four rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 25 minutes.

Te-Hina Paopao joined them in double figures with 13 points. She also had a team-high five assists. 

Reserves Maryam Dauda and Joyce Edwards also hit double figures with 10 points each. Dauda who had yet to score this season, added eight rebounds. Edwards added six rebounds and a block.

South Carolina shot 52% for the game and held Coppin State to 37%. The Gamecocks were plus-eight in points off turnovers and plus-18 rebounding. They were plus-33 in bench points and plus-22 in points in the paint.

Laila Lawrence led Coppin State with 20 points and seven rebounds. Angel Jones added 17 points.

Notes:

South Carolina unveiled its 2024 national championship banner before the game. … Tessa Johnson did not play. Johnson tweaked her ankle against NC State and did not play in the second half. She practiced Wednesday but was a late scratch for rest on Thursday. … Freshman point guard Maddy McDaniel made her collegiate debut. She had two points, two rebounds and two assists. … Ashlyn Watkins did not play in the first half but made an immediate impact in the third quarter. She finished with three points, four rebounds, two blocks, and two assists in just 14 minutes. … Adhel Tac played four minutes and blocked a shot but missed her only shot attempt. South Carolina has won 41 straight games and 60 straight at home. … Dawn Staley’s outfit: Staley wore a black jacket over a Kelly green shirt. … Announced attendance was 15,550. … South Carolina’s next game is Sunday against East Carolina. The game is sold out.

Discuss South Carolina women’s basketball on The Insiders Forum!