South Carolina women's basketball: MiLaysia Fulwiley gets her second chance against North Carolina
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Not much has gone wrong for MiLaysia Fulwiley during her stellar freshman season, but on Sunday she gets a chance to avenge her lowest moment.
By now, the story is pretty well-known. Beginning with her incredible debut in Paris, Fulwiley had become a must-see player, mixing breathtaking plays with major scoring production. She was South Carolina’s star of the early season.
It came to a screeching halt in Chapel Hill. Fulwiley played three minutes before Dawn Staley, angry about a couple of defensive mistakes, yanked her from the game. That’s where Fulwiley watched the rest of the game.
“It was a moment in her young college career in which there hasn’t been another moment like that,” Staley said on Saturday. “So it was a defining moment. It was a moment in which some growth took place because she’s so used to playing, she’s so used to participating. In that particular game, I thought the things that she wasn’t doing for us hurt us. Then the things that she could possibly do for us didn’t work out for one reason or another.”
Fulwiley didn’t pout or get her feelings hurt, she took the message and learned from it. There’s more to college basketball than flashy plays, especially on the defensive end. As the season progressed Fulwiley evolved from a defensive liability to a physical, aggressive defender who can create chaos.
“I’m definitely focused more on my defense more than anything, just because I feel like that’s one of my weaknesses,” Fulwiley said. “I’m just trying to improve every day, every step of the way. And I feel like that’s what I need to prove, which I’ve been doing better at. So I’m excited to see what I do bring for my team.”
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Fulwiley made an impact defensively during the SEC Tournament, helping her win Tournament MVP. She harassed Endyia Rogers in the quarterfinals, had a key steal in the semifinals, and tormented Hailey Van Lith in the final.
“Her on-ball defense (is) getting to the point where it’s really, really, really good,” Staley said. Her off-ball defense needs a little bit of work, but for what she’s been able to do defensively has been great in her young career.”
Staley complained after the Presbyterian game that Fulwiley “scored 17 points but gave up 19 points.” That may have been an exaggeration, but the message wasn’t about accuracy, it was about effort.
Staley probably didn’t have to prod Fulwiley again. The memory of sitting on the bench already has Fulwiley focused on avenging her earlier performance.
“Definitely. Fulwiley said. I’m always telling myself I’ve gotta play better each and every game. So watching my teammates fight hard against that team, it just makes me want to go out there and help them a little bit more.
South Carolina and North Carolina tip off at 1:00 ET on Sunday on ABC.
