South Carolina Routs Benedict 113-34 in Final Exhibition, With Key Players Back From ACL Injuries
South Carolina women’s basketball beat Benedict 113-34 on Friday in its last preseason tune-up. The game also gave fans a first public look at several key returning players and the freshmen.
An experienced starting five
As Dawn Staley had said she would on Thursday, South Carolina opened with veterans. Tessa Johnson, Jordan Lee and Agot Makeer started in the backcourt, with Chloe Kitts and Joyce Edwards up front.
Standouts
- Tessa Johnson: She followed her 23-point showing in the first exhibition with 17 points, 12 of them in the first half. She added five steals, which would have been a career high in a regular game, plus four rebounds and three assists, and shot 3-of-5 from three. She also handled most of the point guard work when she was on the floor.
- Joyce Edwards: Kitts tapped the opening tip to Edwards, who scored on a layup to start the game. She finished with 15 points in just 18 minutes.
- Chloe Kitts: She missed last season with a torn ACL and made her season debut. In 12 minutes she had eight points, seven rebounds and two assists. She wore a knee brace as a precaution and fidgeted with it at every dead ball.
- Ashlyn Watkins: She also returned from a torn ACL, suffered in January 2025, and sat out last season. She was the first player off the bench and got a standing ovation as she entered. In 16 minutes she nearly had a double-double, with nine points and 10 rebounds.
- Jerzy Robinson: The freshman was the second player off the bench and put up a double-double. She tied for the team lead with 17 points and 10 rebounds and led all players with five assists.
Debuts and depth
Everyone played except Adhel Tac and Kaeli Wynn, who did not dress. The game marked season debuts for Kitts, Watkins and Alicia Tournebize. Freshmen Robinson and Kelsi Andrews made their first public appearances for the Gamecocks. Andrews entered late in the first quarter.
What’s next
The Gamecocks now head to Paris for the season opener on Nov. 2 against Maryland. The article doesn’t say why Tac and Wynn didn’t dress, so their availability is a question to watch. The pasted text had no direct quotes, so none appear above.
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