South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards has shown exactly what she can bring to the Gamecocks since joining the team in 2024. The former No. 2 prospect has taken on even more frontcourt responsibility after teammate Chloe Kitts was ruled out for the season with a torn ACL in her right knee; she has elevated her game across the board, boosting her points, rebounds, assists and blocks; something USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb experienced firsthand on Saturday as the sophomore forward dismantled the Trojans.
What Did USC Coach Lindsay Gottlieb Say About Joyce Edwards’ Impact in the Game?
Coach Gottlieb was asked postgame about Joyce Edwards’ impact in their loss to South Carolina. She detailed how the sophomore created a matchup nightmare for his players at the power forward position due to her agility and length on the floor.
“She’s really lengthy,” Gottlieb said of Edwards, who finished with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, plus four assists, two steals, and two blocks in 35 minutes of action for the Gamecocks. “So, even if you feel like you’ve contained the possession, she’s still just kind of a little slithering, get over the top.”
The USC coach noted that Edwards thrives on South Carolina’s fast pace, enabling the 6’3″ sophomore to burst into transition and rack up points. She also praised her resilience in logging long minutes without faltering.
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Joyce Edwards exploded in the third quarter, pouring in 10 of her 17 points and propelling the Gamecocks’ lead to 55-45. She anchored South Carolina’s defense in the final period, stifling USC to seven points and sealing their fourth straight win.
Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley commented on Edwards’ progress, saying, “Joyce has worked really hard all of her life for these moments.”
“She’s a year older and you can see the experience kicking in. Like, she trusts her work. She trusts the work that she puts in behind closed doors when nobody is looking,” Staley said. “Good, bad or indifferent, she trusts that part of what she brings to the table. She’s a total crash out on both sides of the ball, and I mean that in the most affectionate way.”
Building on her strong third-quarter performance, Edwards has averaged 18.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.3 blocks per game over four games this season. She has also improved her field goal shooting, making 55.4% of her shots from the field. However, her free-throw shooting percentage dropped to 55.6% from 77.7% last season.
The No. 2 South Carolina Gamecocks will stake their unbeaten record against the Winthrop Eagles (2-2) on Wednesday at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina. Tipoff is set at 7:00 p.m. ET with the SEC Network covering the game on live television.