The South Carolina Gamecocks dominated in their round game of the NCAA women’s bracket.

The South Carolina Gamecocks were heavy favorites coming into their first round game. Not only to advance but to potentially go and win the whole thing for a second year in a row. Right now though, Dawn Staley and her team are having to take it one game at a time and the Lady Gamecocks dominated.

South Carolina defeated Tennessee Tech by a final score of 108-48. Joyce Edwards was the leading scorer for South Carolina with 22 points off of the bench. MiLaysia Fulwiley had a solid game as well with 15 point off of the bench.

The Gamecocks (31-3) improved to 17-1 in the past four women’s tournaments, winning in 2022 and 2024. The lone defeat came to Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the national semifinals in 2023.

With Edwards, named to the all-Southeastern Conference first-team this season, leading the way, the top seeds of the Birmingham 2 Regional looked poised for another title in a few weeks.

“Everything comes at you, you don’t know what to expect,” Edwards said. “Once you get your first rebound, the nerves settle down.”

Tennessee Tech coach Kim Rosamond was impressed with the Gamecocks overall skill and discipline. South Carolina made 43 of 67 field goals.

“If they shoot the basketball like that the rest of the way, they’re going to be almost impossible to beat,” Rosamond said.

South Carolina will face ninth-seeded Indiana on Sunday for a spot in the Sweet 16. The Hoosiers outlasted eighth-seeded Utah 76-68 earlier Friday.

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They went into a hornet’s nest, and ended up with the result most opponents do.

South Carolina baseball lost 12-2 in its series opener against No. 3 Arkansas at Baum-Walker Stadium, falling behind 7-0 and eventually losing in seven innings on the run rule after Wehiwa Aloy hit a walk-off three-run home run to extend the lead to 10 in the seventh inning.

Arkansas (20-2, 3-1 SEC) got a strong start from ace Zach Root, an outing which ended up being a complete game after the offense ended the evening early. Root allowed just two runs in seven innings on 92 pitches, striking out seven batters while only issuing one walk and giving up six hits.

His own offense gave him a second inning lead when Justin Thomas Jr. hit an RBI single off South Carolina (17-6, 1-3 SEC) starter Brandon Stone. The damage continued in the third inning, but this time with self-inflicted wounds. Stone got himself in trouble with four free passes — three walks and a hit batter — after a lead-off double, the latter two walks both coming with the bases loaded.

Then Arkansas second baseman hit a grounder to short, which should have ended the inning and kept the Gamecocks down three. But shortstop Henry Kaczmar could not field it cleanly, and it rolled into the outfield to score two more runs. Kaczmar did not return to the game, replaced by Will Tippett at shortstop.

Matthew Becker took over for Stone, but the former Friday starter struggled again. Becker surrendered five earned runs on eight hits in just 3 ⅓ innings, raising his season ERA to 6.65.

South Carolina’s offense could not do much with Root all night, only picking up its two runs thanks to a Jordan Carrion RBI groundout in the fifth and a wild pitch with a runner on third in the sixth. No Gamecock had more than one hit, and the only extra base hits came via three doubles from Ethan Petry, KJ Scobey and Talmadge LeCroy.

The closest South Carolina got was a 7-2 game in the seventh, but the Razorbacks responded with five runs in the bottom half of the frame off Becker and Aydin Palmer to end the game early and preserve their entire bullpen for the final two games of the series.

South Carolina will send Jake McCoy to the mound to try to even the series in a 3 p.m. ET first pitch on Saturday.

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Josh Leonard, a standout 5-star prospect from Wilson High School, has been named the Sports Illustrated South Carolina Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Leonard’s dominant performances on the court, where he averaged 21.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, have earned him recognition as one of the top players in the country. His exceptional skills were also recognized nationally as he earned Gatorade South Carolina Boys Basketball Player of the Year honors earlier this year.

Leonard, a 6-foot-7, 230-pound sophomore, led the Tigers (21-9) to the Class AAAA state tournament semifinals and was named the 2025 AAAA Player of the Year. He shot an impressive 59.1% from inside the arc, 39.2% from three-point range, and maintained a true shooting percentage of 61% this season.

Off the court, Leonard has made a significant impact in his community, volunteering at the Manna House soup kitchen and participating in holiday toy drives for children in need. His commitment to academics is equally impressive, maintaining a 4.1 GPA, underscoring his well-rounded character.

Special Recognition: Korie Corbett and Jordan Watford

While Leonard takes the top honor, we are pleased to extend Special Recognition to two other standout performers who had exceptional seasons:

Looking Ahead

This year’s honorees represent the very best of South Carolina high school basketball, showcasing not only exceptional talent but also dedication, leadership, and a commitment to their communities. As we look to the future of the sport, we’re excited to see how these athletes continue to develop and contribute at the next level. Their hard work and perseverance serve as an inspiration to aspiring players across the state, and we look forward to witnessing their journeys as they chase their dreams.

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