Despite a very tonight upset scare from fourth-seeded Maryland, South Carolina women's basketball showed its championship mettle once again. The Terrapins led 60-59 late in the fourth quarter, but the Gamecocks came up big in the closing minutes to pick up a 71-67 win in the Sweet 16 and advance to the Elite Eight.

South Carolina may not have been able to do that without a superstar performance in the second half from standout sophomore MiLaysia Fulwiley. The star guard finished the game with 23 points, 16 of them coming in the second half.

Fulwiley had a very tough first half, as did most of her Gamecock teammates. There was even a moment where head coach Dawn Staley went at the youngster on the sideline a little bit, but she responded with her best basketball to help South Carolina continue its bid for a repeat.

After the game, Staley highlighted how that response shows the growth of Fulwiley, according to Go Gamecocks.

“Two months ago, she wouldn't have been able to recover from that,” Staley said.

Article Continues Below
More NCAA Basketball News
Connecticut Huskies forward Breanna Stewart (30) was awarded 2013 USA Basketball female athlete of the year, presented to her by head coach Geno Auriemma prior to the game against the Houston Cougars at Gampel Pavilion
Breanna Stewart reveals Geno Auriemma nearly drove her to transfer from UConnZachary Weinberger ·
The CIAA is gearing up for its 79th Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament, which is set to take place in late February and early March
CIAA tournament staying in Baltimore until 2029Kiya Wimbush-Robinson ·
Arkansas basketball news: John Calipari drops $6 billion NBA 'humble brag'
Arkansas basketball’s John Calipari drops $6 billion NBA ‘humble brag’Chris Spiering ·
McNeese State Cowboys head coach Will Wade during the second half of a second round men’s NCAA Tournament game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Amica Mutual Pavilion.
Will Wade loses NC State basketball commitment from big man after Ven-Allen Lubin signingRexwell Villas ·
Florida Atlantic Owls forward Kaleb Glenn (1) scores on a steal during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans at Jack Breslin Student Events Center.
Top Michigan State basketball transfer suffers season-ending knee injuryScotty White ·
South Carolina womens basketball head coach Dawn Staley and guard Bree Hall (23) celebrate after defeating the NC State Wolfpack in the semifinals of the Final Four of the womens 2024 NCAA Tournament at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Dawn Staley hypes up ex-South Carolina player’s 2nd chance with ValkyriesJess Koffie ·

Fulwiley's fourth quarter was an absolute highlight factory for South Carolina. First, she got out in transition, spun around a defender and dropped a beautiful no-look pass to a teammate for a layup. A little later, she took the ball behind her back on a euro-step before finishing the play with a floater.

Then, with the Gamecocks leading 62-60 with less than two minutes to go, Fulwiley attacked the basket, brought the ball up high over a defender and finished the Donovan Mitchell-esque move with an easy finish at the cup.

This South Carolina women's basketball team struggles to score from the perimeter at times, but Fulwiley is its get out of jail free card. When Staley really needs to inject the offense with some life, she can go to Fulwiley and let the former five-star recruit get down hill. When she does, good things usually happen.

That growth that Staley highlighted allows her to go to Fulwiley more often, exemplified by the 21 minutes that she played in the game on Friday with many of them coming in the second half. If the Gamecocks are going to win another national championship this season, Fulwiley is going to have to be a major piece of the puzzle.