Who’s in, who’s out: Projected starting five vs. Benedict
Gamecocks Aim for a Healthier Lineup in Friday’s Exhibition Finale vs. Benedict
South Carolina women’s basketball closes its preseason Friday at 7 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena against Division II Benedict, its last tune-up before the Nov. 2 opener against Maryland in Paris. This is a projection.
South Carolina: Who started vs. Charleston
In the 91-60 win on Sept. 27, Dawn Staley started Tessa Johnson, Joyce Edwards, Agot Makeer, Texas transfer Jordan Lee and Adhel Tac, and all but Tac finished in double figures. That lineup was shaped by absences. Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins sat out as a precaution while recovering from knee injuries. South Carolina played without six players in that game.
Projected starting five vs. Benedict
- Tessa Johnson (G): She scored 23 points against Charleston.
- Jordan Lee (G): She led the newcomers with 15 points, hitting all four of her threes.
- Agot Makeer (G): She shared point guard duties with Johnson against Charleston.
- Joyce Edwards (F): She had 28 points and 16 rebounds.
- Chloe Kitts (F): She is the likely addition, replacing Tac in the first five. Tac would move to the bench.
Who’s in, who’s out
- Likely back: Kitts, as you noted. She tore her ACL almost a year ago and has progressed well in rehab. Watch her minutes.
- Questionable: Watkins tore her ACL in January 2025 and returned to the team in May, and Alicia Tournebize (finger), Kaeli Wynn (knee) and Jerzy Robinson (knee) also missed the Charleston game. I couldn’t confirm their current status.
- Bench: Freshman Oliviyah Edwards was the first player off the bench against Charleston, and Michigan transfer Brooke Quarles-Daniels was second.
Benedict: Potential starting five
Benedict is a SIAC program that finished 16-8 last season after being picked fifth in its division. This projection is based on last season’s roster, which may have changed:
- Alaysia Nash (G): A preseason All-SIAC pick, considered one of the conference’s top perimeter defenders, with 2.6 steals per game.
- Andrea Duncan (G): She averaged 8.0 points and 2.2 assists as a freshman.
- Gwendasia Page (F): She led the Lady Tigers with 13 points against Tuskegee.
- Raven Johnson (G): She scored a career-high 21 points in the regular-season finale.
- Aaliyah Lawrence (F): She added 10 points in the same game.
Guard Ghylissa Knowles, a top SIAC three-point shooter, was a graduate student last season, so she may be gone.
What to expect
Benedict is built around rebounding and pressure. It ranked first in Division II in rebounds per game (47.25) and offensive rebounds (21.2), and forced 24.83 turnovers per game. That targets two problems from the Charleston game. Charleston won the offensive rebounding battle 25-16, and the Gamecocks had 15 turnovers to 12 assists. The size of a Kitts-Edwards frontcourt should help on the boards.
Who to watch
- Kitts: Her first game action in nearly a year.
- Jordan Lee: Staley wants her to be more aggressive and score.
- Oliviyah Edwards and Brooke Quarles-Daniels: Both are still fitting into the rotation.
- Benedict’s Nash: Her defense could test South Carolina’s ball handlers.
Staley said she hopes to have more players available for this game. The injury report should show which of the questionable players suit up.
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