COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley spoke to reporters following her team’s hard-fought 91–82 exhibition win over No. 11 North Carolina at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, offering insight into the Gamecocks’ performance, adjustments, and early-season chemistry.
On Joyce Edwards bringing the ball up
“It wasn’t by design,” Staley said with a smile. “She can handle the basketball, but I thought our point guards deferred a little too much. She’s capable, though—she did it in the national championship game. I’d just like our point guards to control it more, maybe use Joyce as a screener and stay in transition longer early in the possession.”
On Ayla McDowell’s absence
Staley confirmed McDowell sat out due to illness.
“She’s been sick the last couple of days,” she said. “She probably could have played, but she didn’t feel great during shootaround. I just wanted her to get better for the regular season.”
On UNC’s success in transition
“When you turn the ball over like we did—especially in the fourth quarter—it makes it easier for them,” Staley admitted. “They’re a transition team that plays scrappy and physical. They got 14 offensive rebounds and really outworked us for loose balls.”
On returning home for Ta’Niya Latson and Raven Johnson
“When we got the chance to play in Atlanta, we instantly took it,” Staley said. “It let us bring Raven and Ta’Niya home. We couldn’t get regular games here, so this was the next best thing—and I’m glad it worked out.”
On Raven Johnson’s health
“Raven’s tough,” Staley said. “She’ll be sore tomorrow, but she’ll play. That’s who she is.”
On foul trouble for Tessa Johnson and Madina Okot
“Tessa’s fouls came from playing hard defense,” Staley explained. “Sometimes when you guard that well, you’ll pick up a few. She just needs to avoid risky charges when she’s in foul trouble.”
“For Madina, they attacked her—she got caught switching and guarding smaller players. She’s capable of guarding guards, but she’s got to get lower in her stance and stay disciplined.”
On Maryam Dauda’s improvement
“I’m proud of Maryam,” Staley said. “She gave up her summer to stay here and work. Now, things are slowing down for her—she can see and process the game better. I even said before the game, ‘Maryam’s going to play well tonight.’ She and Adel (Tac) defend and rebound at a high rate, and that depth is what keeps us strong.”
On Agot Makeer’s play
“Freshman stuff,” Staley noted. “She was a bit careless with the ball, but that’s fixable. She’s got great vision and is a terrific passer. She just needs to make quicker decisions. She’s high-IQ—it’ll come.”
On ball movement and communication
“We’ve got to get better,” Staley said bluntly. “This is a totally different team—we’ve only been together since late August. The chemistry and flow aren’t there yet, but it’s better than against Anderson. We’ve got scorers, but sometimes making that extra pass hurts the defense more. The film will help us improve.”
On North Carolina’s potential
“They defend, they shoot, they penetrate,” Staley said. “They’re missing two key players, but their young ones are getting valuable minutes. They’ll definitely be a threat in the ACC.”
On what needs fixing before the regular season
“Defensively, we need to be more connected,” Staley emphasized. “Our fouling comes from poor rotations and lack of chemistry. That’ll come with game experience. Even Joyce and Madina are still figuring each other out. Once we get that defensive cohesion, you’ll see everything start to clean up.”
Up Next:
The Gamecocks open their regular season Monday night at Colonial Life Arena against Grand Canyon University.
