South Carolina’s head coach, Dawn Staley, already knows what critics will say about her team after their gritty 71-67 victory over Maryland in the Sweet 16. For the second consecutive game, the reigning national champions found themselves trailing at halftime, struggling with poor shooting stretches and uncharacteristic mistakes. Yet, where some see flaws, Staley sees resilience—an unshakable, battle-tested squad determined to defend their title.
Doubters Be Damned—South Carolina Keeps Proving Themselves
Staley doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the doubts. “Is it ugly? Yes. Are people going to say this doesn’t look like a national championship team?” she asked. “Well, we didn’t look like one last year to most in the beginning of the season. Probably didn’t look like one—we looked like one in ’22. In 2017, we didn’t look like one. I think we’re back to where we don’t look like one, and hopefully we can win it and even it out.”
But the Gamecocks have heard this story before. They don’t need validation; they just need wins, and they keep finding ways to get them. Friday night’s victory was no exception. Staley made the necessary adjustments, and her team responded in crunch time.
MiLaysia Fulwiley—the X-Factor Off the Bench
One of the biggest reasons South Carolina found their groove? MiLaysia Fulwiley. With the starting unit lacking cohesion in the first half, Staley turned to the dynamic freshman off the bench, and she delivered big time.
Maryland had built a six-point lead early in the third quarter, but that’s when Fulwiley took over. Her electrifying plays—like a dazzling spin-move assist to Te-Hina Paopao and an incredible behind-the-back layup—ignited the Gamecocks. Fulwiley later admitted she heard Maryland players doubting her ability to finish on that play: “I just let my confidence finish the rest and it went in. So I was excited to prove my haters wrong.”
By the time the final buzzer sounded, Fulwiley had set her own NCAA tournament career high with 23 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter alone. That’s the most points scored off the bench by a South Carolina player in an NCAA tournament game since 2000.
A Game-Changing Moment—And a Dominant Finish
Even with Fulwiley’s heroics, South Carolina still found themselves trailing 60-59 late in the fourth quarter. Then, a pivotal moment changed the entire game. Maryland’s Allie Kubek fouled out with just over three minutes left, leaving the Terps vulnerable inside. The Gamecocks seized the opportunity, going on a 7-0 run to take control.
Fulwiley was at the center of that surge, slicing through Maryland’s defense for two driving layups that showcased her blazing speed and fearless finishing ability. According to ESPN Research, she was nearly unstoppable in the paint, making 78% of her shots near the rim. In just 21 minutes on the court, she either scored or assisted on a staggering 29 points.
Maryland’s Coach in Awe of Fulwiley’s Speed
Even Maryland’s head coach, Brenda Frese, had to acknowledge Fulwiley’s dominance. “Nobody in the country has anyone to be able to match that kind of speed,” she said. “We were trying to corral her with two to three players, but you see her end-to-end speed. I thought she was no question the most valuable player in this game. We had no answer for her. That’s just how elite she is.”
Frese, however, did raise some concerns about the officiating. Her team had 16 free-throw attempts in the first half but only two in the second. “Something changed,” she pointed out. “I didn’t think the way we were attacking, getting to the rim, and making plays changed. We just, for whatever reason, weren’t able to get to the free-throw line, and that’s a big piece of who we are.”
Despite the loss, Frese remained confident in her team’s performance. “We showed that we could win this game, and I think we gave a pretty good blueprint on how to beat South Carolina, to be quite honest, for the teams moving forward.”
What’s Next? The Road Gets Tougher
That next challenge for the Gamecocks? Duke, one of the best defensive teams left in the NCAA tournament. These two squads met earlier in the season, with South Carolina taking an 81-70 victory in December.
“People thought we had the easiest region,” Staley said. “It’s not easy at all. It gets harder.”
And she’s right. Every game now is a test of championship mettle. South Carolina may not look perfect, but they look dangerous. And when you have a player like MiLaysia Fulwiley who can flip the switch in an instant, the Gamecocks are a team no one wants to see standing in their way.
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