South Carolina women's basketball: The quick impacts of Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell has been a group effort

Four months ago, freshmen Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell weren’t expected to be major contributors this season. But three games in, they have found significant roles.

Makeer is averaging 7.7 points and, despite missing all of the fourth quarter against Bowling Green, has emerged as South Carolina’s top player off the bench. Her three-pointer early in the fourth quarter against Clemson jolted the Gamecocks out of their lull and turned a 10-point lead into a 28-point win.

McDowell is averaging 6.7 points, the second-most off the bench. She has emerged as a solid defender who can knock down open threes, and scored 11 points against Bowling Green.

“Both of them, that’s our expectations for them now,” Tessa Johnson said. “They’re not playing like freshmen out there.”

South Carolina has just 10 healthy players this season because of injuries to Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins. That means the freshmen have been practicing more than they might have been if there were 11 or 12 players.

It has forced the freshmen to become immediate contributors, and perhaps given them a little bit longer leash than they might have had otherwise. But Staley said the small roster has nothing to do with Makeer and McDowell’s development

“Whether we had a full roster or not, they would play because they are smart, they are bringing something to the table we haven’t had on a consistent basis,” Staley said. “They can shoot the basketball. They have a willingness to play. They have some bravado about them that you like. They’re not just blending in; they’re doing what they do best all the time and on a consistent basis. They build trust to do those things out on the floor.”

As much as they may have forced the issue, everyone acknowledges that getting a couple of 18-year-olds ready to play major college basketball has been a group effort.

“(Khadijah Sessions has) poured into me but also held me accountable, which I think is the best,” Makeer said before the season opener. “She believes in me, and all the coaches believe in me, so it’s been really good.”

“I think just effort-wise, I think I did pretty good, but it all comes from my teammates,” McDowell said after scoring 11 points against Bowling Green. “They pour in so much to me, like confidence-wise, and that’s what increased my performance tonight.”

When Makeer struggled against North Carolina, committing five turnovers and three fouls in the exhibition, Staley took the blame. She said they weren’t properly preparing Makeer in practice.

“I think we have to make some adjustments with her, as far as getting the Highlighters to play a little bit more aggressive,” Staley said. “It’s stuff that we’ve seen in practice. So it’s not like, you know, they were new mistakes. We’ve seen her before. She’s a great passer. She’s got a great court vision. Start getting rid of it a little bit quicker, and make a quicker decision with the basketball. But that’s just, that’s, that’s sort of watch film, and she’ll make adjustments. She’s really a high-IQ player.”

When the coaches are confident in a player, the player becomes more confident.

“I feel like coaches having confidence in players drives a player,” Makeer said. “I think having her in my ear and her telling me just go and do what you do, I think it’s been really important.”

Makeer and McDowell are the only freshmen, but South Carolina also has two transfers in seniors Ta’Niya Latson and Madina Okot. With 40% of the roster new, plus four new starters, everyone is learning.

Because so much of practice has been devoted to learning and developing chemistry, it has helped the freshmen catch up.

“Even though a lot of people are new here, everyone’s willing to learn and willing to help each other,” Makeer said.

“I think the only difference for me (from high school) is how disciplined you have to be,” McDowell said. “You have to be very, very disciplined, especially under Coach Staley. That’s the main thing I’m focusing on. Staying disciplined on the defensive end and also on offense.

Right now, Makeer brings a little more to the table on offense, and McDowell brings a little more on defense. Makeer’s ability as a ballhanlder is especially valuable with backup point guard Maddy McDaniel suspended.

McDowell’s defense has impressed Staley the most, especially when her teammates have been inconsistent on that side of the ball so far this season.

“I thought Ayla did a really good job in just continuing to fight, just continuing to play, giving multiple efforts, defensively and on the boards,” Staley said after the Bowling Green game. “Some people need to take a page out of her book because, if we can play like that, it’ll clean up some of the mishaps that we have out there.”

Up next is the biggest test of the season so far, when South Carolina travels west to play Southern Cal in the Real SC series. The Trojans have a talented freshman of their own in Jazzy Davidson, a long, rangy scorer. 

It’s only one game early in the season, but there will be some freshman bragging rights on the line, and it should be a lot of fun for fans.

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