South Carolina women's basketball: The 3-2-1 - Clutch players, burning questions, and a favorite play
South Carolina women’s basketball cruised to a pair of wins during the first week of SEC play. We look at the clutch players, burning questions, and a favorite play from week one.
Three Clutch Players
1. MiLaysia Fulwiley
vs Mizzou: 20 minutes, 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 4 fouls drawn
vs Mississippi State: 15 minutes, 9 points, 2 rebounds, 4 fouls drawn
Fulwiley got off to a slow start in both games. But she was instrumental in sparking the decisive third-quarter run against Mizzou and scored all of her points in the second half to help pull away from Mississippi State. Fulwiley’s defense was huge against Mizzou, and it was probably one of her best all-around games.
2. Tessa Johnson
vs Mizzou: 29 minutes, 10 points, 2 rebounds, 5 fouls drawn
vs Mississippi State: 27 minutes, 22 points, 2 assists
Against Mizzou, Johnson had the sort of quietly productive game we’ve come to expect from her (although, check out those five fouls drawn). There was nothing quiet about Johnson’s performance against Mississippi State. She made four consecutive threes in the second quarter to help South Carolina erase an 11-point deficit and finished with a career-high 22 points.
3. Chloe Kitts
vs Mizzou: 19 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
vs Mississippi State: 25 minutes, 17 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists
Kitts didn’t do much against the Tigers because Joyce Edwards and Ashlyn Watkins (and Adhel Tac!) had big games. But when Watkins was injured against the Bulldogs, Kitts stepped up with her first double-double in a month.
[USC-Texas A&M WBB: Win two tickets]
Two Burning Questions
1. How bad is Ashlyn Watkins’ injury?
Watkins’ injury cast a pall over the otherwise comfortable win over Mississippi State. Watkins fell awkwardly after being fouled on a drive to the basket. She had to be helped to the locker room, dragging her left leg and not putting any weight on it. Watkins didn’t have to go to the hospital, and her father later said on social media that Watkins was “fine.”
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Neither of those is an actual diagnosis or an indication of whether Watkins might miss any playing time.
Watkins is South Carolina’s best rebounder and shot-blocker and probably the best overall defender. She’s also a reliable scorer. South Carolina would have a big hole to fill if Watkins misses any time.
2. What’s with Fulwiley in the first half?
Fulwiley played well in the second half of both games, especially at Mizzou. But she was quiet (or downright bad in Starkville) in the first half. It’s a strange development and probably not a coincidence that both games were close in the first half. It would be nice to get her going sooner.
[USC-Texas WBB: Win tickets, parking]
One Favorite Play
All season, Staley has emphasized reversing the ball. This is why. Te-Hina Paopao drove, drew the defense, kicked back to Chloe Kitts on the other side of the lane, and Kitts passed out to Tessa Johnson at the top of the key. The ball touched three different spots on the court and ended with a wide-open look. Unselfish basketball is pretty basketball.
(It’s the second video of the Tweet.)
