South Carolina left Auburn with a lopsided 81-51 road victory on Thursday night, but the Gamecocks’ dominance came with a few uneasy moments.
No. 3 South Carolina closed the game without two of its starting guards. Freshman Agot Makeer exited early in the first quarter, and senior Ta’Niya Latson never returned after halftime. While the scoreboard suggested business as usual, the rotation disruptions forced Dawn Staley to rely heavily on her bench — and her young guards answered.
Staley did not provide specific details regarding Makeer’s injury, only noting that the freshman was in pain and would be evaluated further once the team returned to Columbia. Latson, meanwhile, was sidelined as a precaution.
“She’s not feeling well,” Staley said.
With both guards unavailable, South Carolina’s depth was immediately tested. Sophomore Maddy McDaniel and freshman Ayla McDowell were thrust into expanded roles, and both delivered critical minutes that helped stabilize the Gamecocks on both ends of the floor.
“(Latson’s) teammates stepped up in a big way and filled the void of not having her and (Makeer),” Staley said.
McDaniel was the first guard off the bench after Makeer left the game at the 6:18 mark of the opening quarter. Her impact was instant — a steal, a basket, and a noticeable shift in tempo. She played 10 first-half minutes and scored all nine of her points before halftime, finishing just one point shy of tying her career high.
“I was just feeling good,” McDaniel said. “Like Coach talks about, coming off the bench, just making an impact. So that’s what my focus is. Just checking into the game and instantly trying to make an impact.”
McDaniel’s role expanded even further after halftime. With Latson held out, she opened the third quarter alongside Raven Johnson, Tessa Johnson, Joyce Edwards and Madina Okot, anchoring a new-look lineup that South Carolina has rarely used this season.
“I think it has been good just to show how we could be a versatile team,” McDaniel said. “Compared to teams in previous years, I just think that we show something different. I just think that my role, controlling the second unit has been a little bit different now that (Makeer) has moved to the first unit. So in practice, we’re just working, trying to work with just two guards and three bigs, or vice versa, three guards and two bigs.”
Staley praised McDaniel’s command of the game, particularly given the unfamiliar combinations on the floor.
“Maddy ran the show,” Staley said. “Maddy managed the game. Maddy got players who have not played together in practice, played in the game together at the end of that game, all on one accord. Then earlier in the game, she came in and I just thought she elevated our play on both sides of the basketball.”
McDaniel logged a team-high 28 minutes and filled the stat sheet. Her six assists and four steals led the Gamecocks and tied her career highs in both categories. Entering the night averaging just 3.8 points, her expanded role could signal increased trust from the coaching staff as SEC play intensifies.
“She is young, but she’s starting to mature and doing the things that we need point guards to do: score, facilitate, play-make, organize us,” Staley said. “She did all those things tonight, and I’m proud of her.”
McDowell also seized her opportunity. The freshman, who entered the game averaging 11.8 minutes, logged 24 minutes — her most in a conference game — and brought her trademark energy throughout.
“We know what we’re getting from Ayla,” Staley said. “Ayla is going to give 110%, she’s going to give multiple efforts, she’s going to knock down shots. For her, she just needs opportunity. We have a back court that has a lot of bodies. Some of those bodies weren’t able to play the second half, she stepped in and she gave us what she absolutely always gives us.”
McDowell finished with eight points, including two 3-pointers, along with three steals and two rebounds. Her consistency, regardless of role or minutes, continues to stand out within a crowded backcourt.
“I told her, she’s probably one of the most mentally strong individuals in that locker room,” Staley said. “She doesn’t know what she’s gonna play, but when she does get out there, she gives the same effort, maximum effort, all the time. So if we don’t have some of our starters, I’m not second-guessing whether or not we put her in the basketball game, because she’ll be ready.”
Analysis:
The Auburn win reinforced a familiar truth about South Carolina under Staley: depth is not just a luxury — it’s a necessity. While the status of Makeer and Latson bears monitoring, the Gamecocks showed they can adapt on the fly without losing structure or intensity. McDaniel’s steady growth and McDowell’s reliability give South Carolina valuable insurance as the SEC grind continues — and confidence that adversity won’t derail championship-level expectations.
