KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In nine games, South Carolina women’s basketball has been led by a player who is just 20 games into her first college season.
Freshman Joyce Edwards had 18 points in the 70-63 win over Tennessee on Monday night, her fourth consecutive game as South Carolina’s highest scorer.
“Joyce plays the right way,” coach Dawn Staley said. “Joyce makes good basketball decisions and that’s why you see her flourish, she just plays within her capability.”
Edwards hit 8-of-13 shots from the field and had five rebounds, finishing with the second-most minutes on the team with 29, one minute behind starter Te-Hina Paopao.
The No. 2 Gamecocks (20-1, 8-0 SEC) allowed the Lady Vols (15-5, 3-5) to have a hot start and strong finish, but despite the team’s stagnant offense in the opening quarter, Edwards had six quick points in six minutes.
In the third quarter, Staley trusted Edwards to not just produce on offense but do so while Tennessee was clawing out of its large deficit and with the home crowd on its side.
“I’ve been playing basketball for a long time,” Edwards said. “I didn’t necessarily feel any pressure, she knows I stay calm and composed and I just went out there and executed.”
Monday’s performance almost topped her career night against Alabama on Jan. 16 where she scored 11 of her 21 total points in the fourth quarter to carry South Carolina to victory. Against Oklahoma three days later, Edwards worked through one of the best centers in the country in Raegan Beers, finishing with 17 points. In the win over LSU on Friday, she had 14 points, including 10 in the second half to pull out the 66-56 win.
Though to the freshman that is leading the No. 2 team in the country and the only undefeated team left in the conference, none of that seemingly matters much to her.
“Usually after the game I just look at my mistakes,” Edwards said with a chuckle.
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dawn Staley allows Joyce Edwards to lead South Carolina basketball
