The South Carolina women’s basketball team made a strong return to SEC play on Thursday, delivering a commanding 95-55 win over Arkansas. MiLaysia Fulwiley was the standout performer, coming off the bench to provide an immediate spark.
The sophomore guard finished with 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists, making several highlight plays throughout the game.
Arkansas HC Praises MiLaysia Fulwiley’s Impact Off the Bench
Arkansas struggled to keep up with South Carolina’s depth and fast-paced play. Fulwiley’s performance drew praise from Arkansas head coach Mike Neighbors, who acknowledged her influence on both ends of the floor. The X page of Noah Chast posted a snippet from the postgame conference.
“Must be nice to bring her off the bench.”
Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors on MiLaysia Fulwiley (@MilaysiaF). The sophomore had 15 PTS and 4 ASTs off the bench. Says South Carolina still is a team to look out for come tournament time.@abc_columbia pic.twitter.com/Cj9o3WZ4f2
— Noah Chast (@NoahChastTV) February 21, 2025
He said, “Yeah, it must be nice to bring her off the bench. It’s just a spark. I know she excels in that role. She’s accepted. It’s unbelievable, but you know, you’re a little gassed, and she comes in, and you know it’s she’s she takes it to another level just with her, and you know her offense a lot of times gets the flush, but it’s what she does defense for. She just disrupts.”
Fulwiley’s highlights included a difficult and-one play and an alley-oop layup just before halftime. Her presence energized the Gamecocks, who bounced back from a 29-point loss to UConn just days earlier. South Carolina controlled the game in the third quarter, going on a decisive 22-5 run. It is to widen the margin and eliminate any comeback hopes for Arkansas.
Freshman Joyce Edwards led the Gamecocks in scoring with 18 points while also grabbing eight rebounds. Chloe Kitts contributed with a double-double, recording 10 points and 13 rebounds. The team’s depth was evident, with 56 total points coming from the bench.
South Carolina Prepares for the Next Challenge
Following the win, the Arkansas head coach acknowledged South Carolina’s depth and defensive strength:
“It’s hard for her kids to get around her, and you know they play such great team defense, but yeah, I thought that little when she came in, and Miriam came in and did a great job for my letter buddy. They came in 56 points off the bench, just speaks to the depth that they’ve got and the team that I think you know going into March, that’s very, very important.”
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He also mentioned, “I don’t know what will happen. I’m not very good at predicting things. I never have been but I still think this is a South Carolina team. Everybody better look out for it.”
With this dominant performance, South Carolina proved they remain a force in the SEC. The team now shifts focus to their upcoming two-game road trip, beginning Sunday at Vanderbilt. A strong showing in conference play will be crucial as the Gamecocks prepare for March Madness.
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