"I want her to not be in the gym so much": Dawn Staley in awe of South Carolina star Joyce Edwards' work ethic

Dawn Staley had Joyce Edwards to thank for South Carolina's latest win on Sunday, with the freshman forward scoring a game-high 17 points in the Gamecocks' 101-60 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners. Staley praised Edwards in the postgame press conference after producing another fine display off the bench.

Edwards shot 8-for-10 from the field and grabbed four rebounds in 23 minutes of action. She has been a vital cog for Staley since Ashlyn Watkins went down with a season-ending knee injury, averaging 16.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in South Carolina's last four games.

A reporter asked Staley what it's like to see Edwards develop into a consistent leading scorer for South Carolina this early in her college career. The South Carolina coach attributed her rapid rise to her incredible work ethic.

"You can see it. I mean, Joyce’s work ethic is unmatched," Staley said (Timestamp 15:40). "Like it’s borderline, it’s too much. She’s just driven like she only knows one way."

"She works out before practice. She works out after practice and I know she’s in there with her dad in between. That’s just who she is. I want her to not be in the gym so much but that’s her makeup."

Dawn Staley revealed that she had a conversation with Joyce Edwards about the importance of taking care of her body with the season just at its halfway stage.

"You have to take care of your body because the pace that she works out and practices, it’s hard during the season. It’s really hard," Staley said. "I don’t think she really knows what a college season feels like."

"She knows halfway through the season but your legs get heavier, it gets harder. Sometimes when you physically can’t do something, your mentals have to take over."

Staley knows the long season will take a toll on Edwards' body soon and the Gamecocks will have to prepare her for that eventuality.

"I think she’s strong, yes, but she hasn’t really been pushed to that point where she’s got to tap into her mentals. It’s going to happen this season. It’s going to happen at some point so we just have to prepare her for when that happens."

Joyce Edwards leads bench attack for Dawn Staley in win over Oklahoma

The South Carolina Gamecocks cruised to victory against the Oklahoma Sooners thanks in large part to their bench scoring. No. 2 South Carolina outscored No. 13 Oklahoma 53-21 in that department. The Gamecocks' reserves accounted for more than half of South Carolina's points.

South Carolina Gamecocks guard MiLaysia Fulwiley (#12) drives over Oklahoma Sooners center Raegan Beers (#52) in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Photo: Imagn

Apart from Edwards, two other bench players scored in double figures for South Carolina. MiLaysia Fulwiley recorded 15 points and seven assists while Tessa Johnson had 13 points and five dimes against the Sooners.