Joyce Edwards scores 23 points as Dawn Staley's Gamecocks squander most of a 31-point lead before holding off the Terrapins in a high-scoring women's college basketball showdown.
Joyce Edwards scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and five South Carolina players finished in double figures Monday as the Gamecocks survived a furious second-half rally by Maryland in Paris.
South Carolina built a commanding 61-33 halftime lead and stretched its advantage to 31 points before Maryland mounted a comeback behind Addi Mack, who scored 31 of her career-high 35 points after halftime.
The Terrapins trimmed the deficit to 89-80 with 4:30 remaining, forcing South Carolina coach Dawn Staley to call a timeout. The Gamecocks responded with seven unanswered points, briefly restoring control before Maryland made one final push.
The Terrapins closed within 96-90, but Jordan Lee and Jerzy Robinson converted critical free throws in the closing moments to preserve South Carolina's season-opening victory.
The win showcased the Gamecocks' offensive firepower while exposing defensive vulnerabilities that nearly erased an otherwise dominant performance.
