Dawn Staley reacts to MiLaysia Fulwiley's logo three during South Carolina vs Oklahoma: "Wasn't the first time she's done something like that"

Dawn Staley and MiLaysia Fulwiley
Dawn Staley and MiLaysia Fulwiley (Image credit: IMAGN)

No. 2 South Carolina coach Dawn Staley was not surprised by MiLaysia Fulwiley's long-distance shot at the end of the first quarter against No. 13 Oklahoma on Sunday. Fulwiley's 3-pointer from just inside half court gave the Gamecocks a 28-9 lead going into the second period. South Carolina went on to win the game 101-60.

Here's the video of Fulwiley's shot:

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During the postgame conference, Staley was asked about the sophomore guard's logo 3.

"I think it's more of [MiLaysia] — I think she is being more intentional about making the right basketball play," Staley said (3:48). "So with that, after she didn't go when there were like five seconds left, I knew she was going to take the three.
"I mean, she felt it. That wasn't the first time that she's done something like that either, so it was just what we needed at the end of a quarter. That kind of deflates you as a defense, and then the building explodes. That is Gamecock basketball."
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The home crowd at Colonial Life Arena erupted in cheers as Fulwiley's shot went down. The Gamecocks players on the bench jumped up in excitement and ran onto the court to celebrate with her.

"I can't get taken out of the game, because it's a buzzer-beater. I was like, 'OK, I have eight seconds left. I can either shoot it or drive,'" MiLaysia said of her thought process on the shot. “I have been driving a lot and I felt like I had to mix it up. I just shot it, and when it went in, I was so excited."

Dawn Staley heaps praise on MiLaysia Fulwiley, highlighting her steady growth

MiLaysia Fulwiley has been a steady contributor for South Carolina this season while also showing flashes of the type of player she can become. Against the Sooners on Sunday, she finished with 15 points, four rebounds and a career-high seven assists.

"It's been a climb for MiLaysia, and it doesn't mean that she's not going to go back to a different place. That's part of the process. It just hasn't happened in a couple of games, and that's growth," coach Dawn Staley said postgame (1:56).
"For me, I'm proud of her because I ask her to be a little bit more disciplined while giving her the freedom to do whatever she needs to do."

Fulwiley shot 5-of-14, including 1-of-6 from 3-point range. Freshman forward Joyce Edwards, another player who came off the bench, led the Gamecocks with 17 points in 23 minutes of action.

Dawn Staley's South Carolina team has a firm grip at the top of the SEC standings with their latest victory, improving to 6-0 in conference play (18-1 overall). Their next opponent on Thursday, Kim Mulkey's LSU Tigers, sits in second place in the SEC with a 5-0 record and remains undefeated overall.

Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma, or Kim Mulkey - who is NCAAW's highest-paid coach? Find out here

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Edited by Prathik BR
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