DURHAM, NC — MiLaysia Fulwiley played just three minutes for No. 1 South Carolina women’s basketball against North Carolina, and the freshman came out with something to prove at Duke on Sunday.
Fulwiley added a highlight at the end of the first quarter against the unranked Blue Devils. As the final seconds wound down, senior guard Te-Hina Paopao gave up a steal to Duke’s Reigan Richardson, but Fulwiley quickly recovered to steal the ball back and turn it toward the Gamecocks’ basket.
With 2.1 seconds on the clock, Fulwiley took four quick dribbles to get just past midcourt, then launched her shot. It bounced from the backboard to the rim to the glass again before falling to stunned reactions from both South Carolina and Duke fans. The 3-pointer cut the Blue Devils’ lead to a single score, and the Gamecocks trailed 20-18 entering the second quarter.
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley has repeatedly described Fulwiley as a generational talent, but she was honest about the freshman’s flaws after she played just three minutes in the team’s 65-58 win over North Carolina on Thursday.
“It was such a nip-and-tuck game that I (didn’t) want her to lose confidence,” Staley said postgame. “She’ll know exactly why she didn’t get extended minutes. I’ve always told our players if you play well, you get extended minutes. If you don’t, they have to go to someone else. It could be you at times, it could not be you at times.”
Fulwiley has appeared in all six games, averaging 12.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. She caught the attention of the basketball world in her collegiate debut with a behind-the-back up-and-under layup against Notre Dame, earning praise from NBA icons Magic Johnson and Kevin Durant.
The freshman had arguably her best game against Clemson on Nov. 16, scoring 18 points shooting 4-of-7 from 3-point range with nine rebounds and three assists. Fulwiley was the No. 13 prospect in 2023 and South Carolina’s top-rated signee in the class.
GENERATIONAL TALENT: Dawn Staley told us. South Carolina freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley is talk of basketball world
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Tags: South Carolinas MiLaysia Fulwiley hits epic buzzerbeater Duke
