COLUMBIA — The moment could have swallowed a freshman. Instead, Agot Makeer embraced it.
With South Carolina trailing 44–43 in the third quarter against Texas, Makeer attacked the lane, weaving through defenders before releasing a tough shot that fell as she hit the floor. The whistle blew. The basket counted. And just like that, the freshman delivered a momentum-shifting three-point play in one of the biggest games of the season.
For Dawn Staley and most of her No. 2 Gamecocks, the pressure of a top-five matchup felt routine. For Makeer, it was her first taste of that stage — and she thrived. In the 68–65 win over the No. 4 Longhorns, Makeer scored eight of South Carolina’s nine bench points in just 13 minutes, proving her impact went far beyond the box score.
“As a freshman I think her IQ is above and beyond,” point guard Raven Johnson said. “I haven’t seen a freshman like her that knows the game of basketball like she does.”
South Carolina’s starters all reached double figures, but Texas’ suffocating defense demanded help from the bench. Staley needed someone who could bring energy, execution, and composure — and Makeer delivered all three.
Her emergence was made even more critical given the Gamecocks’ recent injury stretch. When Ta’Niya Latson missed three games in early January with an ankle sprain, Makeer stepped into the starting lineup. Latson’s return against Texas — where she scored 12 points — gave South Carolina balance, but it was Makeer’s steady presence that allowed the guards to breathe.
Down 32–25 in the second quarter, Makeer sparked the offense with a simple but timely give-and-go with Joyce Edwards, snapping a scoring drought and settling the team.
Her value didn’t stop on offense. Texas star Madison Booker is the engine of the Longhorns’ attack, and Makeer was tasked with limiting her influence. Moments after her basket, Makeer forced Booker into a corner, disrupting the play and triggering a turnover that Latson turned into a fast-break layup.
“She wants to win too and she’s a sponge,” Johnson said. “On defense, she’s long and hard to get around her.”
Staley’s confidence in Makeer reflects her broader philosophy. Freshmen aren’t coddled — they’re expected to perform.
“Gotti is reliable,” Staley said. “That’s a big word when it comes to a freshman… she’s been through some things.”
Those “things” included entering concussion protocol in early December, missing nearly a month, then being thrust into a starting role once healthy.
“I’m proud of her because probably maybe a month ago she probably thought she would never play,” Staley said. “When you think you’re never going to play, then something else enters your brain.”
Makeer didn’t play heavy minutes, but Staley said her impact was undeniable.
“Happy for her… the time that she was on the floor, she really made it impactful.”
On a night defined by toughness and execution, Agot Makeer proved she belongs — not as a freshman, but as a difference-maker.
