College basketball is back for the Gamecocks as No. 1 South Carolina started the year off with a win, beating No. 20 Maryland 101-93 in a game played in Paris, France. 

The Gamecocks had to fend off a late Terrapins comeback after being outscored 60-40 in the second half, but a 61-33 first-half cushion was enough for the team to withstand.   

“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,” head coach Dawn Staley said after the game. “It was a tale of two halves, and we certainly got to play for 40 minutes every time we step on the floor.”

Five different players reached double-figure scoring for the Gamecocks. Junior Joyce Edwards led the way with 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists on 10-of-19 shooting.   

Sophomore Agot Makeer also reached the 20-point club, scoring 20 while shooting 80% from the floor and 100% from three. 

“She played just like she’s been practicing,” Staley said. “Super proud of a young talent like her. She’s got to keep going, and we’re relying on it.”

Tessa Johnson scored 15 points, Jordan Lee had 13 and freshman Jerzy Robinson had 15 in her collegiate debut. 

This game also featured the highly anticipated returns of Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins, each of whom missed significant time last season because of injuries. 

Both contributed in significant ways. Watkins finished with a team-high 10 rebounds to go with seven points off the bench. Kitts was in the starting lineup and finished with eight points, seven rebounds and five assists in 19 minutes of playing time.   

South Carolina came out of the gate playing fast and in transition. The Gamecocks finished the first half with 27 fast-break points and 21 points off turnovers. The team started the game by hitting all seven of its shots and led by as many as 31 points at one point. 

Things changed in the second half as Maryland and their star Addi Mack caught fire.   

Mack led all scorers in the game with 35 points on 14-of-20 shooting and 6-of-10 from three. 31 of those points came in the second half.   

The Terrapins outscored the Gamecocks 26-17 in the third and 34-23 in the fourth. With just over four minutes in the game, Maryland had clawed all the way back from the 31-point deficit to cut the game to nine.   

Maryland’s ability to shoot the ball better and protect it gave the team an avenue to claw back. South Carolina also shot a little bit worse and had their fair share of turnovers. 

“We do have to get better,” Staley said. “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.”

A 7-0 South Carolina run late allowed the team to expand its lead again, and there was just not enough time left for Maryland to finish the comeback. 

The deficit got down to six at one point, but Maryland was forced to turn to the free-throw game, and South Carolina converted.   

With the win in the bag, the Gamecocks will hop on a plane and travel back to the United States.  Next time out, the team will travel up I-77 to Charlotte to play No. 12 North Carolina in a neutral-site game. 

Tip-off is set for Sunday at 5:30 p.m.