Watkins is Season’s Fourth Gamecock to Earn SEC Player of the Week

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s basketball sophomore Ashlyn Watkins became the fourth Gamecock this season to claim SEC Player of the Week honors, the league office announced today. The six total selections this season tied the most in South Carolina’s program history, and the four different players from the same team are the most in league history.

Coming off the bench in both games, Watkins was the Gamecocks’ stop scorer for the week with 17.0 points per game, helping the Gamecocks close out their second-straight undefeated regular-season with a pair of victories. She added 7.5 rebounds per game, second best on the team last week.

At Arkansas, Watkins posted a 21-point, 11-rebound double-double in just 21 minutes on the court. Her career-high 21 points came on 9-of-12 shooting and included 13 first-half points as South Carolina established a 16-point advantage by the break. In the regular-season finale against Tennessee, Watkins scored eight of her 13 points in the fourth quarter, including six in the final 3:15 of the game. After the Lady Vols had pulled within five, she scored six straight points on a steal turned into a transition layup, a pair of free throws following her offensive rebound and a putback of her own missed shot to make it an 11-point game with 1:14 to play.

In addition to Watkins’ selection this week, South Carolina has seen Kamilla Cardoso claim the award three times this season with Te-Hina Paopao and Raven Johnson each picking it up once. On top of those four, MiLaysia Fulwiley was SEC Freshman of the Week once this seasons as well.

No. 1/1 South Carolina continues a three-game homestand on Thu., Feb. 8, against Missouri. Tipofff at Colonial Life Arena is set for 7 p.m. with the game airing on SEC Network.

Continue to check GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for the most up-to-date information on South Carolina women’s basketball.