South Carolina women's basketball: "Not afraid of the moment" - MiLaysia Fulwiley continues to impress
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MiLaysia Fulwiley has shown no stage is too big for her throughout her first season of collegiate basketball. She proved it once again in South Carolina’s Round of 32 matchup against North Carolina.
The Gamecocks defeated the Tar Heels 88-41 and Fulwiley led the team in scoring coming off the bench.
“I was just excited I got to be out there and just get some stops on the defensive side and do some great things on the offensive side,” Fulwiley said.
The freshman packed her stat sheet full and shined on both ends of the ball. Fulwiley finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and an assist. She also made four three-pointers on six attempts.
“When I step on the court my main focus is usually defense, so once I’m playing great defense and I get good stills, I feel like my offense usually flows and just comes to me,” Fulwiley said.
Fulwiley was energetic on the defensive end and hunted down three blocks and three steals apiece. She stayed in the Tar Heels’ back pocket all game and never let up.
“She’s not afraid of the moment no matter if she’s playing well or not,” head coach Dawn Staley said. “She’s not afraid to make mistakes, she doesn’t like to look bad, but she’s unafraid to make mistakes. For that, we are honored that she chose to make the mistakes and correct them on Gamecock ground.”
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When the Gamecocks defeated North Carolina in the regular season, Fulwiley didn’t get to see much of the court. She played just three minutes and recorded a foul and no points.
“She didn’t want to have the type of performance that she had the first time we played, so I think she had something to prove to herself and something to prove to the game,” Staley said. “I think she’s wired that way.”
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On a fast break in the first half, Fulwiley chose to pass the ball to Bree Hall instead of taking the basket for herself. Staley said that’s an example of her growth since the beginning of the season.
“She’s aware of situations that you really don’t think her young mind is really thinking about and then she performs the way she does,” Staley said.
Fulwiley’s first experience in post-season basketball has been nothing but successful. She scored 24 points in the SEC championship and earned MVP honors. Then, she scored 17 points in her first NCAA Tournament game against Presbyterian.
“I think this team, we do a great job of just playing for each other, I think we don’t play for the fans and all the other extra stuff, I think everything we do out on the court is for each other,” Fulwiley said.
