Ashlyn Watkins Stats: How did South Carolina star fare vs Charleston Southern? (Dec. 19)
Ashlyn Watkins stood out in South Carolina’s dominant 36-point home win over Charleston Southern on Thursday. The No. 2 Gamecocks overcame a slow start to secure their 64th consecutive home victory with an 82-46 triumph against the Buccaneers.
Watkins delivered a solid performance on both ends of the court. She logged a team-high 25 minutes off the bench, contributing eight points, eight rebounds, a season-high three assists, one steal and three blocks — half of the team’s total six blocks.
Her presence was minimal in the first quarter, with just one blocked shot and a missed field goal attempt. However, she made a significant impact in the second quarter, recording six points, four rebounds, one block and one assist, helping South Carolina extend its lead to 34-26.
Watkins maintained her momentum in the third quarter, adding two points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal to widen the Gamecocks’ advantage to 54-36. She capped off her performance in the fourth quarter with an additional rebound, assist and block.
Entering the game, Watkins was averaging solid numbers across the board. In 10 games this season, she has averaged 7.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.7 blocks in 19.6 minutes per game.
Now in her third year with the Gamecocks, Watkins is having a productive season. After overcoming early challenges that resulted in charges being dropped, she made headlines by completing a dunk in each of her three seasons — most notably during South Carolina's 85-52 win over TCU.
South Carolina Dominates in Home Victory
The No. 2 Gamecocks struggled early, shooting just 14.3% in the first quarter and allowing the Buccaneers to end the period with an 11-0 run, taking a 15-11 lead. This marked the fourth time this season South Carolina trailed after the opening quarter.
However, the Gamecocks quickly recovered to defeat Charleston Southern 82-46 at Colonial Life Arena. They scored at least 20 points in each of the next three quarters while limiting the Buccaneers to no more than 11 points per period during that stretch.
South Carolina outperformed Charleston Southern by making 11 more field goals, outrebounding it 40-32 and finishing with a 17-9 edge in assists. The Gamecocks’ defense held the Buccaneers to 30% shooting from the field and limited them to just 7-of-9 free throws.
The hosts tallied 11 steals, six blocks and forced 23 turnovers and 17 fouls. These defensive efforts led to 20 points off turnovers. Offensively, the Gamecocks capitalized by converting 19 of 23 free-throw attempts.
With an 11-1 record, South Carolina will enjoy a 10-day break before returning to action on Dec. 29 to host Wofford.