COLUMBIA, S.C. — With Tennessee Tech band members screaming “Terrible!” in her ear Friday, South Carolina’s MiLaysia Fulwiley caught a rifle of a pass from teammate Joyce Edwards and netted a 3-pointer that immediately silenced the hecklers.
No. 1 seed South Carolina had just put up 33 points in the first quarter of its never-in-doubt, first-round win over No. 16 Tennessee Tech in the 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament.
Fulwiley and Edwards, the only two team members who grew up in South Carolina, showed out for their home-state fans.
Edwards, a freshman, led all scorers Friday with 22 points on 9-for-12 shooting. Fulwiley, a sophomore, finished with 15 points, five assists, four blocks and three steals. Neither started the game.
“I would definitely say that our connection is there,” Edwards said. “We know each other since we’ve been playing with each other since high school and against each other. We know each other, we look for each other and we know where we’re going to be.”
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South Carolina’s 66 points off the bench set an NCAA Tournament record, men’s and women’s.
“When you get the top kids from South Carolina to stay home, it’s always a great thing, because they bring a great following,” Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said.
Staley has said Edwards could become the best player in college basketball.
“She will be,” teammate Raven Johnson said after Friday’s game.
“She’s owning the stage,” Edwards’ father, Charlie, told USA TODAY Sports while watching Friday’s game, “but if you know Joy, she’s always owned the stage.”
For Edwards’ parents, Friday’s game felt like a home matchup — with an exception. Usually, the family gathers afterward to talk, sometimes to just talk in the car outside the arena, sometimes to grab a bite to eat.
“We just have to spend time together after the game, like she always has to leave the game with us,” Edwards’ mom, Rasheedah, said. “It’s gonna be different now because I don’t know what they do with the (NCAA) Tournament.’”
Andy Mathis is a student in the University of Georgia’sSports Media Certificate program.
