“Toughness and just playing faster, more often,” shared Dawn Staley on Monday after the Gamecocks’ 126-42 win against Division 2 Clayton State at Colonial Life Arena. According to Staley, the team needed “more experience” and to play against teams other than their practice players—and it seems she was right.

Sophomore MiLaysia Fulwiley and freshman Joyce Edwards led the way for South Carolina. Fulwiley scored 21 points, while Edwards put up an impressive double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds, along with a game-high six assists. “I would say I feel pretty comfortable… I’m always nervous coming into the game, but I feel like my teammates and the coaching staff prepare me for moments like this,” Edwards shared in a post-game conference on October 28.

The team frequently set up Edwards for easy layups, but she also contributed with offensive rebounds and putbacks. Thanks to Edwards, Staley’s Gamecocks scored 70 points in the paint. Despite her outstanding performance, the No. 2 recruit in ESPN’s 2024 rankings wasn’t a starter. She came off the bench to play 10 minutes in the first half, going 5-for-5 from the floor and grabbing three rebounds.

The 18-year-old made the most of what she got, crediting coach Staley. “She has confidence in me. She pushes me to be the best. Be position-less. Not limit myself. I feel like she really emphasizes on me being limitless.”

Teammate Tessa Johnson couldn’t wait to weigh in with her view of Coach Staley’s approach and Edward’s response towards it. “Coach is challenging her, and Joyce takes on that challenge every single time. She’s the most competitive person, and she brings that competitiveness for the rest of us,” she adds.

Johnson is right—Edwards’ dominance this season is a good sign for the team.

But Edwards isn’t Staley’s only focus

The South Carolina women’s team fired early and often from beyond the arc. They attempted 32 three-pointers, 11 more than their last performance, and made 11 of them. For Staley, the team’s three-point shooting wasn’t by design; it developed naturally with the flow of the game as the Gamecocks found open looks in rhythm.

“We’ve developed that part of the skill set in our players—we don’t want them gun-shy…We want them to shoot because they do a great job in practice,” added Staley. Tessa Johnson and Bree Hall led the team in three-point attempts, with Johnson hitting 3 of 8, Hall went 0 for 7. However, Johnson stood out, though not always in the best way. She missed her first three 3-point attempts before making her next three tries.

“When she was going through the slump, I said, ‘You’re back to Tessa,'” joked Staley, adding, “She’s not ‘Three-sa’ as she wasn’t making her 3s.” It was all in good humor, bringing a broad smile to Johnson’s face. All of this shows that Staley knows her team well and is leading them to success.