Dawn Staley Breaks Down South Carolina’s 82-65 Win Over Vanderbilt
Dawn Staley addressed the media following South Carolina’s dominant 82-65 victory over Vanderbilt on Sunday, sharing insights on her team’s performance, key adjustments, and standout players.
On Joyce Edwards’ Impact
When asked about Joyce Edwards’ influence, especially in the third quarter when Vanderbilt tried to gain momentum, Staley had high praise for her freshman forward:
“Joyce is a difference-maker. She comes off the bench with offensive and defensive firepower, and her competitiveness adds another dimension to our team. She’s finding her spots where she can be truly effective—running the floor is one of them. We’re lucky to have her.”
Defensive Focus on Mikayla Blakes
Mikayla Blakes, who set the NCAA freshman single-game scoring record, was a primary focus for South Carolina’s defense.
“Yeah, she’s special. To come into this league and do what she’s done is incredible. She’s very efficient, and our goal was to make her as inefficient as possible. We knew she would score, but we wanted to make it tough for her. We also made sure she had to work on defense—we didn’t let her relax. I thought we did a good job with that.”
Halftime Adjustments
When asked about any tactical changes made at the break, Staley kept it simple:
“We really didn’t adjust much. The biggest change was making our layups. In the first half, we missed too many. After halftime, we made multiple efforts on rebounding and defending, and that made the difference.”
Transition Game and Turnovers
South Carolina had to clean up mistakes in transition, something Staley emphasized:
“This league will punish you if you turn the ball over. We gave up seven points in the first half by throwing it back under their basket. That’s something we need to fix. In the second half, we did a much better job limiting those self-inflicted mistakes and not giving away easy buckets.”
MiLaysia Fulwiley’s Development
With MiLaysia Fulwiley emerging as a star, Staley was asked about preparing her for the professional level:
“I think MiLaysia is a pro. We’re just giving her the tools to operate in that space because at that level, it’s not just about one way of playing—you have to be multifaceted. Talent-wise, she has it. Now, it’s about handling different situations—starting or not starting, struggling offensively, and still defending at a high level. We’re not taking anything away from her; we’re just adding to what she already brings because she wants to be great.”
Vanderbilt’s Growth Under Shea Ralph
Shea Ralph’s work in building Vanderbilt into a competitive program has not gone unnoticed:
“She’s done a great job. We all know Shea can coach, but it’s about talent. Players like Blakes and Khamil Pierre are the foundation of their future, and I think more players will want to join them. Vanderbilt will be a tournament team, no doubt. They may not be getting the results just yet, but her body of work shows they belong in the field of 68.”
Building a Championship Program
Staley knows what it takes to build a powerhouse, and she shared the key elements to sustained success:
“It’s all about talent, culture, chemistry, and getting players to believe. Vanderbilt doesn’t lack belief. But to win a national championship, you need more than two or three players—it takes eight or nine players embracing their roles, thriving in them, and tuning out distractions that could derail the journey.”
South Carolina continues its march toward postseason success, with Dawn Staley guiding a team that looks primed for another deep run.
