In today’s showdown against Texas A&M, the Gamecocks almost made a slip-up. That was until Joyce Edwards saved the day, and although Coach Dawn Staley praised her clutch play, she was also critical of her team.

South Carolina is gripping tightly to the momentum they gained, winning three games in a row. But to Dawn Staley, it was Edwards who stood out particularly in this game.

On February 3, 2026, the Gamecocks beat Texas A&M 71-56 to take thier winning streak to four. However, it wouldn't be possible without forward Edwards' standout performance. She scored 28 points and 11 rebounds, 14 of which came in the fourth quarter.

“Yeah, she can play make. I just thought down the stretch we were a lot more focused on getting the ball where it needed to be”, the Coach said.

“I think for a lot of the game offensively, we didn’t do a good job of moving the ball in a way that really impacts the defense. So, we just played according to how Texas A&M wanted us to play. They did a great job of executing defensively”, she added.

By the 3rd quarter, the Aggies had nearly erased South Carolina's lead. They rounded up 16 points against the Gamecocks’ 14. And the results could have looked different without Edwards’ 67–53 lead under two minutes remaining.

While Staley acknowledged the victory, she stressed that her team must improve for the coming games.

What’s Next for South Carolina?

With this win, the Gamecocks stand at 22-2 overall and 8-1 in the Southeastern Conference. South Carolina’s roster includes Madina Okot, who averages 13.4 ppg and 10.0 rpg.

Then there is Ta’niya Latson with 15.2 ppg and 3.7 assists. However, in this game, no double digits came from them.

They’ll face the Mississippi State Bulldogs on February 5. However, the schedule will get tougher with the Tennessee Lady Volunteers on Feb 8 and the 5th-seeded LSU Tigers on Feb 14. If the turnovers and poor spacing continue, Staley's team will again be in a tight spot.

How do you think the Gamecocks will do in their next match? Comment your thoughts.

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Written by

Deblina Roy

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi