What Joyce Edwards said after second title-game loss in two seasons at South Carolina
South Carolina women's basketball sophomore star Joyce Edwards with 2 title game losses hopes next year doesn't end the same.
PHOENIX — One year ago Joyce Edwards sat at the podium after losing the national championship with South Carolina. A year later, the only thing that changed was Edwards sat in the locker room, not in the press conference. The Gamecocks (36-4) lost 79-51 to UCLA on April 5, marking the second straight season coach Dawn Staley's group has crumbled in the title game.
Last year it was against UConn. "Obviously we failed last year, failed this year, so hopefully next year is a different story," Edwards said. The 6-foot-3 sophomore finished with eight points, well below her 19.
2 average, on 3-of-10 shooting with 11 rebounds. UCLA's Lauren Betts, a senior 6-foot-7 center, provided 14 points and 11 rebounds, dominating inside to take home her first championship. The Gamecocks finished 18-of-62 (29%) from the floor, but even when Betts was off the floor and UCLA had cold shooting streaks, the Gamecocks never capitalized.
Effort for loose balls was minimal and on both ends UCLA attacked the glass, outrebounding the Gamecocks 49-37. It wasn't all on Edwards and she wasn't even the main defensive matchup for Betts. Madina Okot, who is 6-foot-6, finished with six points on 3-of-9 shooting with three rebounds.