Ashlyn Watkins is rated higher than Jerzy Robinson because she impacted multiple facets of the game—recording 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals, two blocks, and zero turnovers in 26 minutes. In contrast, while Robinson scored 15 points, she committed four turnovers.
South Carolina freshman Jerzy Robinson delivered 15 points in her Gamecocks debut against Maryland. Ashlyn Watkins scored only seven. On the surface, Robinson appears to have the stronger case for South Carolina’s best bench performer. However, a closer examination of the statistics reveals why Watkins deserves the highest rating after the Gamecocks’ dramatic 101–93 victory in Paris.
Watkins finished with 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. She also committed zero turnovers in 26 minutes. Robinson, meanwhile, contributed 15 points, six rebounds and two assists but recorded four turnovers.
Both players had impressive moments, but their performances offered two different examples of how a reserve can influence a basketball game. One provided the offensive production. The other affected almost every aspect of the contest.
And with Maryland nearly completing a remarkable comeback after falling behind by 31 points, those differences deserve closer attention.
South Carolina opened its 2026–27 campaign with a victory over No. 20 Maryland at the Oui-Play event in Paris. Dawn Staley’s team looked dominant during the opening half, scoring 61 points and establishing a commanding 28-point halftime advantage.
However, Maryland responded with a much stronger second-half performance.
The Terrapins outscored South Carolina 60–40 after halftime, led by Addi Mack, who finished with a career-high 35 points, including 31 after the break. Maryland eventually reduced the deficit to six points before the Gamecocks secured the eight-point victory.
South Carolina also finished with 17 turnovers, an area that deserves attention as Staley evaluates her rotation.
Seven reserves received playing time against Maryland. Here is how each performed, ranked from seventh to first.
7. Ayla McDowell – 5.0/10
Ayla McDowell receives the lowest rating among South Carolina’s seven reserves, although her limited playing time makes this assessment difficult.
She appeared for just four minutes and finished without points, rebounds or assists. She did not attempt a field goal and recorded one turnover.
That was a relatively quiet introduction to the season, particularly for a player competing for opportunities on a roster with considerable depth.
However, four minutes are insufficient to draw meaningful conclusions about her ability to contribute throughout the season.
McDowell should receive additional opportunities before any serious judgment is made about her place in Staley’s rotation.
Grade: 5.0/10
6. Brooke Quarles-Daniels – 5.8/10
Brooke Quarles-Daniels had an equally brief appearance, playing just two minutes against Maryland.
She recorded no points, rebounds, assists or shot attempts. Her only statistical contribution was one personal foul, and she finished without a turnover.
There is little to evaluate from such a limited appearance. However, protecting possession remains a useful starting point for a reserve competing for backcourt minutes.
Quarles-Daniels did not make a significant statistical contribution, but she also avoided the costly giveaways that affected South Carolina elsewhere.
Staley will need to give her more opportunities before her potential role becomes clearer.
Grade: 5.8/10
5. Alicia Tournebize – 6.5/10
South Carolina’s 6-foot-7 French sophomore, Alicia Tournebize, had a short but interesting appearance against her home country.
She played three minutes and recorded one blocked shot. She did not attempt a field goal or commit a turnover, although she finished with two personal fouls.
Tournebize also featured in one of the more unusual offensive moments of the afternoon.
Jerzy Robinson attempted an alley-oop pass toward the French forward, but the ball travelled directly through the basket for an unexpected three-pointer. The points went to Robinson rather than Tournebize.
Her most notable contribution came defensively. At her height, Tournebize offers South Carolina another frontcourt option, particularly when Staley wants additional length around the basket.
However, her two fouls in three minutes illustrate an area that requires improvement.
The potential is interesting, but she needs to demonstrate that she can provide consistent defensive contributions without accumulating fouls.
Grade: 6.5/10
4. Justine Loubens – 7.0/10
Justine Loubens produced one of the more encouraging performances among South Carolina’s younger reserves.
The freshman played three minutes, recording one assist and one steal without committing a turnover or personal foul.
Her most notable contribution came during the second quarter.
Loubens generated a defensive steal before delivering a transition assist that helped Joyce Edwards score. It was a positive sequence that demonstrated her ability to contribute without needing to dominate the ball.
That type of basketball can become valuable in a team with several established offensive options.
South Carolina finished with 17 turnovers against Maryland, so players who demonstrate sound decision-making deserve attention.
Loubens did not play enough minutes to justify a major change in her expected role. Nevertheless, her brief appearance offered Staley something worth evaluating.
A longer opportunity in an appropriate game situation would help determine whether she can maintain that level of composure against more sustained defensive pressure.
Grade: 7.0/10
3. Kelsi Andrews – 7.2/10
Kelsi Andrews earns the third position despite playing only two minutes.
Her offensive contribution was limited, as she missed both field-goal attempts and finished without scoring.
However, her defensive activity deserves recognition.
Andrews recorded one steal and one blocked shot during her brief appearance. She also avoided turnovers and personal fouls.
Two defensive contributions in two minutes are encouraging, although the small sample makes it difficult to determine whether she can maintain that production over an extended period.
South Carolina finished the Maryland game with 10 steals and eight blocks. Defensive disruption was an important part of the team’s overall performance, and Andrews showed a glimpse of how she could contribute in that area.
The next step is consistency.
Staley needs to see whether Andrews can translate those defensive instincts into more sustained contributions when given additional playing time.
Her appearance was brief, but it was productive enough to earn the third position in this ranking.
Grade: 7.2/10
2. Jerzy Robinson – 8.5/10
Jerzy Robinson delivered one of the most impressive offensive performances among South Carolina’s reserves.
The freshman finished with 15 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal in 24 minutes.
Her shooting numbers were particularly encouraging.
Robinson converted five of her 10 field-goal attempts, including two of three from beyond the arc. She also made three of four free throws.
That represents 50% shooting from the field and approximately 67% from three-point range.
Her 15 points tied Tessa Johnson for South Carolina’s third-highest scoring total, behind Joyce Edwards and Agot Makeer.
For a freshman making her first appearance in a South Carolina uniform, that was an impressive offensive introduction.
Robinson also contributed on the glass, collecting six rebounds, including three offensive boards. Those additional possessions helped South Carolina maintain its offensive pressure.
She was also involved in the closing stages of the contest, converting three of her four late free throws as Maryland attempted to complete its comeback.
However, there is one significant issue that prevents Robinson from taking the top position.
She committed four turnovers.
That number deserves attention, particularly after South Carolina surrendered a substantial halftime advantage.
Four turnovers represent four lost possessions, although it would be inaccurate to assume that each directly resulted in a Maryland basket.
Robinson’s offensive production was excellent, and her ability to create scoring opportunities could earn her a more significant role as the season progresses.
However, improving her ball security will be essential if she wants to become one of Staley’s most trusted options during close games.
Her performance deserves an 8.5 rating. The offensive talent is evident, but there is room for improvement.
Grade: 8.5/10
1. Ashlyn Watkins – 9.5/10
Ashlyn Watkins is the Garnet Zone Bench MVP against Maryland.
Seven points might not immediately attract attention, particularly when another reserve scores 15. However, Watkins delivered a much broader contribution across the 26 minutes she played.
Her final statistics tell the story:
- 7 points
- 10 rebounds
- 2 assists
- 2 steals
- 2 blocks
- 0 turnovers
- 3-of-5 shooting from the field
The most impressive number is undoubtedly her 10 rebounds.
Watkins recorded more rebounds than any other South Carolina player, despite coming off the bench.
Joyce Edwards finished with eight rebounds alongside her team-high 23 points. Chloe Kitts collected seven. Watkins led the entire roster with 10.
Four of those rebounds came on the offensive glass, giving South Carolina additional scoring opportunities.
Her defensive contribution was equally impressive.
Watkins recorded two steals and two blocks, giving her four combined defensive stocks. South Carolina finished with 18 steals and blocks as a team, meaning Watkins accounted for more than 22% of those defensive plays.
That is a substantial contribution from one reserve.
Then there is the statistic that makes her performance particularly interesting when compared with Robinson.
Zero turnovers in 26 minutes.
Robinson scored 15 points but committed four turnovers. Watkins scored seven while recording none. Both players also finished with two assists.
This is where the discussion becomes more complicated.
Robinson offered considerably more offensive production, but Watkins contributed through rebounding, defensive disruption and ball security.
Her offensive contribution should not be overlooked either. Watkins converted three of five field-goal attempts, giving her a 60% shooting percentage.
She also scored six consecutive points for South Carolina in the fourth quarter, providing valuable offensive production as Maryland attempted to reduce the deficit.
There were imperfections. Watkins committed four personal fouls and made only one of her two free-throw attempts. Those numbers explain why a perfect 10 would be excessive.
Nevertheless, her overall performance was outstanding.
Watkins did not need to score 15 or 20 points to become one of South Carolina’s most influential players against Maryland. She controlled the boards, protected possession and created defensive opportunities.
Her contribution extended well beyond the scoring column.
Grade: 9.5/10
Final South Carolina Bench Player Rankings Against Maryland
| Rank | Player | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashlyn Watkins | 9.5 |
| 2 | Jerzy Robinson | 8.5 |
| 3 | Kelsi Andrews | 7.2 |
| 4 | Justine Loubens | 7.0 |
| 5 | Alicia Tournebize | 6.5 |
| 6 | Brooke Quarles-Daniels | 5.8 |
| 7 | Ayla McDowell | 5.0 |
What This Performance Could Mean for Dawn Staley’s Rotation
South Carolina secured the victory, but the second-half collapse deserves attention.
Maryland scored 60 points after halftime, exposed some defensive weaknesses and forced the Gamecocks into difficult possessions. The 17 turnovers also demonstrated why ball security must remain a priority.
Watkins provided a particularly valuable response through her rebounding and defensive activity. Her performance showed how important a player can become without being one of the team’s leading scorers.
Robinson, meanwhile, demonstrated that South Carolina has another promising offensive option. Her 15 points and perimeter shooting could become important as the competition for rotation minutes intensifies.
Andrews and Loubens also gave Staley reasons to consider additional opportunities for younger players, although their limited appearances make further evaluation necessary.
The biggest question is how Staley will balance offensive production with defensive reliability as the season progresses.
Robinson has the scoring ability to influence games. Watkins has demonstrated that she can influence them in several other ways.
Both contributions are valuable, and South Carolina will need them.
For now, Watkins gets the highest rating because her performance covered more areas of the game, particularly at a time when the Gamecocks needed to regain control.
But the debate is far from settled.
Would you rather have Jerzy Robinson’s 15 points and four turnovers or Ashlyn Watkins’ seven points, 10 rebounds, four defensive stocks and zero turnovers?
And should Watkins be considered South Carolina’s most valuable bench player after the opening game?
The numbers make a strong case for both players, but my choice is Ashlyn Watkins.
Sources: Official game statistics and postgame coverage from the and the .
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