Dawn Staley Reacts to South Carolina’s 101-93 Win Over Maryland: Five Major Takeaways From Her Press Conference / sportsearchers.com

South Carolina opened its new season with a victory, defeating Maryland 101-93 in Paris. However, the final score did not tell the entire story.

The Gamecocks appeared to be in complete control after building a 61-33 halftime advantage and extending their lead to 31 points during the third quarter. Maryland refused to surrender, though, putting together an impressive second-half performance that brought the deficit down to just six points in the final minute.

The Terrapins outscored South Carolina 60-30 after halftime, creating several questions for Dawn Staley and her coaching staff despite the opening-game victory.

Following the contest, Staley addressed Maryland’s comeback, Addi Mack’s outstanding scoring performance, Agot Makeer’s breakout night, the team’s mental toughness and the contributions of South Carolina’s two French players.

Here are the biggest takeaways from her press conference.

1. Dawn Staley Explains What Went Wrong During Maryland’s Comeback

South Carolina looked dominant during the opening half, but Maryland found a different level of confidence after the break.

The Terrapins improved their offensive execution, forced turnovers and took advantage of defensive mistakes. Staley acknowledged that Maryland’s improved rhythm, combined with South Carolina’s mistakes, allowed the game to become much closer than expected.

“I thought Maryland got into a rhythm,” Staley said. “They turned us over. Sometimes we took quick shots, and then they drove the ball down our throats, and we were unable to stop the bleeding. As Chloe [Kitts] said, we do have to get better. These games are for exposing us to things that we need to get better at, and also expose us to things that we are good at. It was the first game in which this team has taken the floor. We found our practices are a lot different than actually in the game, and it was a tale of two halves, that we certainly got to play for 40 minutes every time we step on the floor.”

The statistical differences between the two halves illustrated the problem. South Carolina shot 57.9% from the field in the first half, while Maryland managed just 31.4%. After halftime, the Terrapins connected on 52.5% of their attempts, compared with 40% for the Gamecocks.

Maryland also forced South Carolina into 10 second-half turnovers while committing only three of its own.

For Staley, the message was clear: South Carolina must maintain its concentration and execution throughout all four quarters.

2. Addi Mack’s 35-Point Explosion Caught South Carolina’s Attention

One of the biggest reasons Maryland remained competitive was sophomore guard Addi Mack.

Mack delivered an exceptional performance, finishing with 35 points, including 31 after halftime. She scored 17 points in the third quarter alone, taking advantage of opportunities created by South Carolina’s defensive breakdowns.

Staley recognized Mack’s individual ability while also accepting responsibility for the Gamecocks’ defensive mistakes.

“It was all the above,” Staley said. “To be quite honest, we had breakdowns, and she made us pay. What you see and what you should expect to see, is women can play, like really play basketball, like really take advantage of things out there on the floor. She went to the heart of our defense, and when you go to the heart of the defense, the rest of it’s going to go.”

Staley also explained how Maryland’s spacing created problems for South Carolina’s defense and opened opportunities for outside shooting.

“And I thought they did a good job spacing us out and squeezing our defense to kick out for open 3s. The game plan was pretty good in the first and second quarters. The third quarters we got a little bit tight, probably got a little bit fatigued, and we lost our competitive spirit on that end of the floor. And we got to find a way to finish the game for 40 minutes. But, Addi did a great job. You don’t want to be on the opposing side of it, but hell, it was good to see some basketball. It was great. She made it a game.”

Although Mack’s performance made things difficult, it also gave South Carolina an early opportunity to identify defensive areas that need improvement.

3. Agot Makeer Delivers a Career-Best Performance

While Maryland had Mack, South Carolina received a major contribution from sophomore guard Agot Makeer.

Makeer produced one of the strongest performances of her young career, scoring 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting. She also connected on a career-high four three-pointers, providing an important offensive spark for the Gamecocks.

Her performance was particularly valuable in a game where South Carolina needed contributions from multiple players.

Staley was pleased with what she saw from the sophomore, explaining that Makeer’s performance reflected the work she had been putting in during practice.

“She played just like she’s been practicing,” Staley said. “Gotti always has a way of meeting the moment, and today we needed every single one of her points. She looks like she’s in mid-season form from the way she’s been practicing. So super proud of a young talent like her. She’s got to keep going, and we’re relying on it. First game out, but I think we have to rely on the things that she brings to the table, and I mean, she’s pretty good at doing it.”

Makeer’s ability to score efficiently from the perimeter could become an important weapon as the season develops.

4. Mental Toughness Remains an Area for Improvement

Staley has consistently emphasized the importance of mental toughness, and the Maryland game provided another example of why she considers it essential.

South Carolina had a comfortable advantage, but the team’s execution and defensive intensity declined as Maryland increased its pressure. Physical fatigue may have contributed, but Staley believes players must develop the mental habits necessary to respond when their bodies begin to tire.

“It’s one of the things that we have to get better at, which is the mental part of the game,” Staley said. “Physically, we probably were a little tired, but when you’re physically tired, the mental piece has to kick in. So I don’t think we’ve created enough habits…If you’re tired, something else has to kick in, and that’s your habits, that’s your mental habits. Your competitive spirit will allow you to to to give a little bit more in those type of situations.”

The comments highlight an important challenge for a team with championship expectations. South Carolina cannot depend exclusively on athleticism and talent. It must also develop the discipline to execute when opponents make difficult runs.

5. Staley Discusses Alicia Tournebize and Justine Loubens’ Performances

Monday’s matchup also provided a special opportunity for South Carolina’s French players, Alicia Tournebize and Justine Loubens, to compete in front of friends and family in their home country.

Both players received three minutes on the court. Tournebize recorded two personal fouls and a block, while Loubens contributed an assist and a steal, although she missed her only field-goal attempt.

Staley explained that the increasingly competitive nature of the game affected how much playing time the two newcomers received.

“It’s great to come back, bring Ali and Justine back,” Staley said. “We were anticipating playing them a little bit more than what they got. The game got close, and I just thought that other experienced players needed to play ahead of them. I thought you if Ali didn’t get a little bit foul trouble in the time that she was in in the first half, she probably would have played a little bit more extended minutes, which would probably helped her and helped us make a decision in the second half whether we would put her back in.”

Despite their limited minutes, Staley had encouraging words for both players, particularly Loubens, whose consistency in practice has helped her earn greater consideration in the rotation.

“Justine is moving up the depth chart for me,” Staley said. “It’s just she’s very, very reliable. She is calm, composed, makes good basketball plays. So I think she’s going to move up. Like we need steadiness. We need discipline. We need players that we feel like can give us what we need. And she has actually been doing that for a long time. And I think today she played great. I thought she did some really nice things out there that we probably should have given her a shot to play a little bit more, but in the future she will play more.”

What Comes Next for South Carolina?

The Gamecocks left Paris with a 101-93 victory and a 1-0 record, but Staley knows there is considerable room for improvement.

Makeer’s emergence, Kitts’ presence and the contributions of the team’s newcomers provide reasons for optimism. At the same time, Maryland’s second-half comeback exposed concerns surrounding turnovers, defensive consistency, fatigue and mental toughness.

South Carolina has the talent to compete for another championship, but Staley’s message after the opener was that talent alone will not be enough.

The Gamecocks must learn to maintain their intensity for 40 minutes, respond to defensive pressure and finish games with the same confidence they display when building an early lead.