South Carolina women's basketball: The 3-2-1 - Clutch players, burning questions, and my favorite play

South Carolina got back on the court following Christmas break with a 93-47 win over Wofford. Let’s look at clutch players, burning questions, and my favorite play heading into the SEC schedule.

Since there was only one game last week, we’ll do this a little differently. Instead of looking back at the clutch players, here are three players that could determine whether South Carolina wins a fourth straight SEC regular season title.

Three Clutch Players
MiLaysia Fulwiley
13 games, 17.7 mpg, 10.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.8 apg, 0.9 spg, 41.6 FG%, 27.3 3PT%
Fulwiley’s numbers are down from last season. She’s averaging 1.6 points less and her shooting percentages have dropped from 43.8% overall and 34.3% from three. That’s not the breakout season we expected. Still, of all South Carolina’s talented players, Fulwiley is the hardest for opponents to defend when she gets hot. She also likes the bright lights, so hopefully she gets her groove back in conference play.

Ashlyn Watkins
12 games, 19.7 mpg, 7.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.0 bpg, 1.5 spg, 54.1 FG%
Much has been made about how South Carolina misses Kamilla Cardoso, and rightfully so. But Cardoso missed five games last season and the Gamecocks were fine without her because of Watkins. If she gets back to that level – and Watkins seems close – South Carolina won’t be worried about the post anymore.

Joyce Edwards
13 games, 19.8 mpg, 11.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.5 spg, 1.4 apg, 52.3 FG%, 81.6 FT%
Over the last three games, Edwards has shown why she was one of the most decorated players to ever sign with South Carolina and the subject of a fierce recruiting battle. SEC play is a different beast, but South Carolina’s aggressive non-conference schedule should have prepared Edwards. She can be a difference-maker.

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Two Burning Questions
1. Will the mental lapses continue into conference play?
Every time the Gamecocks have a game where their focus noticeably wanders, there seems to be a reasonable excuse. It’s the last game before Christmas, or the first game back, or the end of a long stretch. The problem is that it keeps happening. 

So far, only UCLA has taken advantage of South Carolina’s lulls. But there aren’t any guarantee games in the SEC. If South Carolina tries to sleepwalk through a matchup every opponent is good enough to win, and the SEC race is often decided by those unexpected slip-ups.

2. Will South Carolina’s three-point shooting pick up?
Last season South Carolina hit 39.5% from three, the third-best clip in the country. This season that has dropped to 34.9%, just 59th in the country. Last season South Carolina made 6.7 threes per game, which is down to 6.5 this season, so the Gamecocks are taking more threes and making less (at 39.5% they’d average 7.3 makes this season).

Dawn Staley likes to talk about taking the right shot, and the Gamecocks are generally taking good three-point shots. Bree Hall (42.5%), Te-Hina Paopao (41.8%), and Tessa Johnson (41.7%) pretty much have the green light anytime they get an open look. But Fulwiley (27.3%) and Raven Johnson (28.9%), who started the season in a miserable shooting slump, are dragging that percentage down.

The Gamecocks had a few shooting slumps last year that they balanced with hot streaks, and there is still plenty of time for that to happen this season. This isn’t a panic situation by any means, but another example of how the offense hasn’t quite clicked completely.

One Favorite Play
I said Joyce Edwards can be a difference-maker. This is just your normal behind-the-back dribble drive for a reverse layup from your four position.

Behind the back 𝗮𝗻𝗱 a reverse – don't hurt 'em @JoyceEdwards24 pic.twitter.com/1BtEGNvvnH

— South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB) December 29, 2024

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