Gamecocks Power Past Tennessee Tech to Open March Madness

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Freshman Joyce Edwards scored 22 points in her first women’s NCAA Tournament game as No. 1 seed South Carolina began its run at a second straight national title with a 108-48 victory over Tennessee Tech on Friday.

The Gamecocks (31-3) improved to 17-1 in the past four women’s tournaments, winning in 2022 and 2024. The lone defeat came to Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the national semifinals in 2023.

With Edwards, named to the all-Southeastern Conference first-team this season, leading the way, the top seeds of the Birmingham 2 Regional looked poised for another title in a few weeks.

The 6-foot-3 forward swears she’s always nervous before games and felt some jitters before stepping out for to start her NCAA Tournament career. But she looked and played as poised as she has all season for the Gamecocks.

“Everything comes at you, you don’t know what to expect,” Edwards said. “Once you get your first rebound, the nerves settle down.”Edwards had more points in her NCAA debut than Gamecocks national champ and WNBA No. 1 overall pick Aliyah Boston, who went for 20 in a win over Mercer in the 2021 event.

Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said Edwards’ relentless approach has endeared her to her older teammates. Edwards rarely stops moving on the court and when she sees a layup go in, Staley thinks it opens the floodgates for her all-SEC player.

“The basket gets big,” Staley said.

Edwards scored six straight points to open up the game as the Gamecocks went ahead 31-11. The Golden Eagles (26-6), champions of the Ohio Valley Conference, saw their 17-game win streak come to an end.

Taris Thornton led Tennessee Tech with 13 points.

MiLaysia Fulwiley added 15 points as all 12 Gamecocks who played scored baskets.

Tennessee Tech coach Kim Rosamond was impressed with the Gamecocks overall skill and discipline. South Carolina made 43 of 67 field goals.

“If they shoot the basketball like that the rest of the way, they’re going to be almost impossible to beat,” Rosamond said.

GAMECOCK NOTABLES

• South Carolina’s 108 points were the most in an NCAA Tournament game in program history, topping the 100 scored against Quinnipiac in the 2017 Sweet 16.
• The 60-point margin of victory, 43 made field goals, 12 made 3s and 67.2 FG percentage also set new program records in an NCAA Tournament game.
• The bench was the star of the show scoring 66 points, outscoring all of Tennessee Tech (48) and marking the most bench points in an NCAA Tournament game in the history of the event.
• Freshman Joyce Edwards finished with 22 points, tallying her fifth 20-point game of the season with eight points coming in the opening quarter. She became just the sixth Gamecock freshman to hit the 20-point mark in an NCAA Tournament game with her 22 being the most since Alaina Coates netted 22 against North Carolina in the 2014 Sweet 16.
• MiLaysia Fulwiley stuffed the stat sheet, scoring 15 points while dishing out five assists, four blocks and three steals.
• Tessa Johnson was a beast behind the arc, going 3-for-4 to add to her 11 points and career-high tying six assists.