South Carolina women's basketball star named SEC Player of the Week

South Carolina women’s basketball star Joyce Edwards has been named the SEC Player of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday.

The Gamecock sophomore helped lead USC to a 2-0 record last week, as Carolina whipped the rival Clemson Tigers, 65-37, and the No. 8 Southern Cal Trojans, 69-52.

Edwards had 18 points and eight rebounds against Clemson and chipped in defensively with three blocks and a steal. She logged a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double in Los Angeles against Southern Cal.

A preseason All-American, Edwards has excelled to start her first year as a starter at USC. Thanks, in part, to her efforts, the Gamecocks are No. 2 in the AP poll. The Camden, South Carolina native leads Dawn Staley’s team in scoring at 18 points per game, has pulled down 6.8 rebounds per contest, and has chipped in with 2.3 blocks, 2.5 assists, and 0.8 steals per game.

NEW! Message board for South Carolina Women’s Basketball!

From the South Carolina Athletics release:

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s basketball sophomore Joyce Edwards was named SEC Player of the Week, the league office announced today. The forward led the Gamecocks to a pair of wins last week, including their first ranked victory of the season with her 17.5 points per game. It is the fifth time in her career that the league has recognized Edwards with a weekly award but her first as SEC Player of the Week.

In a 28-point win over Clemson, Edwards set the tone early with six of the team’s first 11 points and finished the first half with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting. She also tied her career high with three blocks in the contest. Against #8/10 Southern Cal in Los Angeles, Edwards was again the team’s top scorer with her first double-double of the season at 17 points and 10 rebounds. Seven of her points came in the pivotal third quarter, including a transition layup and a floater off her steal that started a 6-0 run that made it a double-digit South Carolina advantage.

On the season, Edwards is the Gamecocks’ top scorer at 18.0 points per game, which ranks sixth in the SEC. Her 2.3 blocks per game are fourth in the league, and her .554 field goal percentage ranks 11th. Edwards’ 6.8 rebounds per game are second on the team and include 3.0 on the offensive end, which is 13th in the SEC.

No. 2/2 South Carolina is back at Colonial Life Arena for a pair of games this week, beginning Wed., Nov. 19, in a 7 p.m. tipoff against Winthrop on SEC Network. The Gamecocks will host Queens University on Sun., Nov. 23, in a 2 p.m. tipoff with the game streaming on SECN+.

NEW! Message board for South Carolina Women’s Basketball!