South Carolina opened its 2026–27 campaign with a statement victory in Paris, defeating No. 20 Maryland 101–93 in a high-scoring contest that showcased the offensive depth of Dawn Staley’s team.
While Joyce Edwards delivered the headline performance, Agot Makeer provided another major highlight, demonstrating why she could become an important part of South Carolina’s rotation this season.
Edwards led all scorers with 23 points on 10-of-19 shooting. She also collected eight rebounds and four assists, contributing across multiple areas of the game. Her ability to score efficiently while creating opportunities for teammates gave South Carolina a consistent offensive presence.
However, Makeer’s contribution deserves equal attention.
Coming off the bench, the Canadian guard scored 20 points and made all four of her three-point attempts. Her shooting performance gave the Gamecocks another reliable scoring option and demonstrated the value of their bench production.
For a team with considerable expectations this season, having a player capable of making that kind of offensive impact without starting is particularly encouraging.
Tessa Johnson also played an important role in the victory. She finished with 15 points, six rebounds and five assists, providing the backcourt with scoring and playmaking. Her contribution was especially relevant as South Carolina continues to establish its backcourt rotation following Raven Johnson’s departure.
Jordan Lee added 13 points, offering another scoring option, while Chloe Kitts recorded eight points and seven rebounds as she returned to regular-season action following her injury absence last season.
What the Paris performance tells us
The most encouraging aspect of South Carolina’s opening performance was the distribution of its offensive production.
Edwards led the scoring, Makeer supplied an explosive contribution from the bench, and Johnson helped organize the offense. Lee added valuable points, while Kitts contributed inside.
That balance gives Staley several ways to approach different defensive matchups. Opponents cannot focus exclusively on Edwards without accounting for the other players capable of producing significant offensive numbers.
There will certainly be areas for South Carolina to improve after allowing Maryland to score 93 points. However, beginning the season with a 101-point performance against a ranked opponent is a positive development.
Edwards and Makeer were the two standout individual performers, but the contributions from Johnson, Lee and Kitts made this a collective offensive effort.
South Carolina leaves Paris with its first victory of the season and several encouraging signs about what this roster could accomplish.
Joyce Edwards delivered the star performance, but Agot Makeer’s 20-point contribution may be one of the biggest talking points from this opener.
Which performance impressed you more: Joyce Edwards’ 23 points or Agot Makeer’s perfect 4-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc?
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